Our Story
Our story tells the journey of two teachers and new mothers who bonded over the shared experiences of navigating language and communication challenges with their little ones. Recognising the profound impact of communication on children's well-being, we embarked on a mission to bridge the gap between the need for early intervention and the available resources - planting the seed for Little Speaking Tree.
'75% of heads of nurseries and schools admitting 3 year olds have noticed a significant decline in children's language competence at entry level over the last five years'
Source: National Association of Head Teachers
Our story begins in 2013...
We met at our first NCT class. We quickly discovered common values being both teachers and new mothers ready to take on motherhood in the best way we could. Our journeys both took an unexpected turn when we found ourselves navigating language and communication concerns with our own little ones, concerns that seemed to echo through the lives of many other families in our local area too.
As Early Years specialists, we have a vested interest in the profound impact that language and communication have on a child's mental and social well-being. We recognise the vital role that speaking and listening play in family connections, peer relationships and ultimately our children’s future learning and achievement.
So, we started searching for information, scouring online resources and exploring local avenues for help for our children. We became increasingly worried by the stark lack of options and dauntingly long waiting lists available to us. And as specialists ourselves, we know that ignoring speech and language concerns in the early years could have long-lasting effects if left unaddressed.
It was clear that a gap existed between the need for early speech and language intervention and the resources available. This fuelled our determination to bridge this gap and provide a supportive and informative platform for parents seeking guidance.
As a result, little Speaking Tree was born. Since then, we have spent years researching and creating Little Speaking Tree - a comprehensive collection of evidence-based activities and exercises endorsed by leading speech and language therapists and child communication experts. We designed Little Speaking Tree to be accessible immediately for every family who needs hope and support on their child’s language and communication journey.
And our mission continues – to empower parents with knowledge, resources, and support on their journey to nurture their children's communication skills. Our Story is a testament to the resilience of friendship, shared experiences, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families.