Literacy Support
Helping children build the skills they need for reading, writing and learning
Literacy is about much more than learning to read and write. Strong literacy skills help children succeed at school, understand what they read, express their ideas through writing and participate confidently in everyday learning.
At SLP Therapy & Me, we provide evidence-based, individualised literacy support to help children develop the foundational skills needed for reading, spelling, writing and comprehension. Therapy is tailored to each child’s strengths, goals and learning style, making learning engaging, practical and meaningful.
What are literacy difficulties?
Literacy difficulties occur when children have challenges developing the skills needed for reading, spelling, writing and understanding written language.
Some children may struggle to recognise letter sounds, blend sounds together to read words, understand what they have read or express their ideas in writing. Others may have difficulty with spelling, grammar or organising their thoughts into sentences and stories.
Because literacy and language are closely connected, children with language difficulties are often at a higher risk of experiencing challenges with reading and writing. Early support can help children build the strong foundations they need for success at school and beyond.
Signs your child may benefit from literacy support
You might notice that your child:
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has difficulty learning letter sounds
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struggles to sound out or read unfamiliar words
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avoids reading or writing activities
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finds spelling difficult
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has trouble understanding what they have read
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writes short or incomplete sentences
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struggles to organise ideas when writing
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finds reading slower or more difficult than classmates
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becomes frustrated with homework
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is finding literacy demands at school challenging
If you’re concerned about your child’s literacy development, an assessment can help identify their strengths, areas of need and the best way to support their learning.
Common literacy difficulties we support
Phonological Awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognise and manipulate the sounds within spoken words. It is one of the most important foundational skills for learning to read and spell. Children may have difficulty identifying rhyming words, clapping syllables or breaking words into individual sounds. Therapy focuses on developing these essential listening and sound awareness skills to support future reading success.
Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is a more advanced skill that involves recognising and manipulating individual speech sounds (phonemes) within words. Children learn skills such as blending sounds to make words, identifying the first or last sound in a word, and changing one sound to create a new word. Strong phonemic awareness is critical for successful reading and spelling.
Letter-Sound Knowledge
Learning the relationship between letters and sounds is a key step in becoming a confident reader. Some children find it difficult to remember letter names, match letters to sounds or apply this knowledge when reading and writing. Therapy provides explicit, structured teaching to strengthen these early literacy foundations.
Decoding & Reading Fluency
Decoding is the ability to use letter-sound knowledge to read unfamiliar words, while reading fluency refers to reading accurately, smoothly and with appropriate pace. Children who struggle with decoding often find reading slow, effortful and tiring. Therapy helps children develop efficient reading strategies that improve confidence and independence.
Reading Comprehension
Reading isn’t just about recognising words - it’s about understanding what those words mean. Some children can read accurately but struggle to answer questions, make predictions or explain what they have read. Therapy develops comprehension strategies that support understanding across stories, information texts and classroom learning.
Spelling
Spelling involves understanding sound-letter relationships, word patterns and spelling rules. Children may spell words as they sound, have difficulty remembering common spelling patterns or struggle to apply spelling strategies independently. Therapy helps children develop spelling skills using evidence-based approaches that build long-term confidence.
Morphology
Morphology is the understanding of meaningful parts of words, such as prefixes, suffixes and base words. Developing morphological awareness supports vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling and written language. Therapy helps children recognise word patterns and understand how words are formed.
Written Expression
Writing requires children to organise ideas, use appropriate grammar and vocabulary, and communicate clearly. Some children struggle to write complete sentences, organise paragraphs or expand their ideas beyond simple responses. Therapy supports children to develop confidence writing sentences, stories and classroom tasks.
What does a literacy assessment involve?
A literacy assessment helps identify your child’s strengths and areas of need across the skills required for reading, spelling and writing.
During the assessment, we may:
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assess phonological and phonemic awareness
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evaluate letter-sound knowledge
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assess reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension
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assess spelling and written language skills
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observe how your child approaches literacy tasks
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discuss your child’s learning history and any concerns you may have
Following the assessment, we’ll explain the results, discuss whether therapy is recommended and develop an individualised intervention plan to support your child’s literacy development.
What does literacy therapy involve?
Every child learns differently, so therapy is tailored to their individual strengths, goals and stage of learning.
Our literacy intervention is informed by current evidence and the science of reading, supporting children to develop the foundational skills needed for successful reading, spelling and written language. Sessions are engaging, structured and evidence-based, combining explicit teaching with motivating activities that build confidence and independence.
Where appropriate, therapy targets the underlying language skills that support literacy, helping children strengthen the foundations needed for long-term success.
Parents are an important part of the therapy process, and we’ll provide practical strategies and activities that can be used at home to reinforce learning between sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between language and literacy?
Language refers to how we understand and use spoken words to communicate, while literacy involves reading, spelling and writing. Strong language skills provide the foundation for successful literacy development.
My child knows their alphabet letters but still struggles to read. Why?
Reading involves much more than recognising letters. Children also need to understand how sounds work within words, blend sounds together, recognise word patterns and understand what they read. Difficulties in any of these areas can affect reading development.
Can speech therapy help with reading and spelling?
Yes. Speech pathologists play an important role in supporting the language foundations of literacy, including phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension. These skills are essential for successful reading and writing.
How long will my child need literacy support?
Every child progresses at their own pace. The length of therapy depends on your child’s strengths, goals and the areas requiring support. Following an assessment, I’ll discuss recommendations tailored to your child’s individual needs.
Can I support my child 's literacy at home?
Absolutely. Reading together, talking about books, playing word and sound games and practising strategies introduced during therapy can all help reinforce your child’s learning. I’ll provide practical activities that fit naturally into your family’s daily routine.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’re concerned about your child’s reading, spelling or writing skills, or simply want to better understand how they’re progressing, we'd love to help. Together, we can assess your child’s literacy skills and develop an individualised plan that builds confidence, supports learning and helps them thrive at school.