About Us

Sidonie Delaney

I qualified as a Speech & Language Therapist over 20 years ago, in 2002, having attended a 4-year course at Manchester University and obtaining a clinical distinction. I worked for the NHS for 7 years, which I loved and learned a lot from, but I also realised I really wanted to be able to work more flexibly with schools to support both staff and the pupils with SLCN to suit their bespoke needs. I set up Speech4Schools in 2010 and started to work independently in a wide range of educational settings from nurseries and pre-schools to mainstream primary schools, specialist settings and independent schools.  I currently work in over 25 educational settings across Kent and many of the schools I have been lucky enough to work in for years.  Some schools I have the luxury of visiting regularly and others I visit on a more ad hoc basis. I love the training aspect of my job, whether or not that is talking through 1:1 with a TA on how to best support a specific pupil during interventions or within the classroom setting, or whether that is delivering whole-school training to Teachers and/or TAs.  It is so rewarding to know that my input helps so many children, their families and the teaching staff involved. My assessments and reports can help schools to successfully apply for much-needed support, albeit an EHCP or accessing some funding. I am extremely passionate about what I do and love the fact that every day in a school is different – you never know what the day will bring!

Nicci Gilchrist

Nicci completed her BA in Psychology at Durham University. She spent a year teaching English as a foreign language in Paris before completing her Masters in Speech and Language Pathology at Reading University. After qualifying as a speech and language therapist, Nicci worked in adult neuro-rehab for many years. She also developed a specialism in treating voice disorders.

Nicci took a career break to move to California for 3 years and have her 2 children. Her eldest son was born 3 ½ months early and has a diagnosis of ASD and her youngest son has ADHD. Her personal experience of supporting her own children with their individual needs is one of the main reasons why she has returned to speech and language therapy as a paediatric therapist. She understands the anxiety parents feel when they have concerns about their child’s speech and language development and wants to use her knowledge and skills to empower other families to see their children thrive.

Nicci ran a weekly pre-school music and movement class for many years in London and, since moving to Canterbury in 2018 she has been working part time as Children’s worker for Emmanuel Church, Canterbury. Her wide experience supporting families with various needs means that Nicci adopts a holistic approach to treating speech and language. Nicci loves working within the school setting and has a particular heart for children in secondary schools, many of whom have complex needs that can sometimes lead to a child being misunderstood as ‘naughty’ or ‘slow’. Nicci always aims to encourage and understand each individual child she meets so that they know they are understood and valued. She is thorough in trying to identify any undiagnosed language needs so that each child can have access to the help they need.

Nicci is also excited about starting voice training workshops for teachers and other professional voice users to minimise staff absence due to voice strain and enable teachers to use their voices confidently without damaging their voice. This is a new service from Speech4Schools, so if you are interested in booking Nicci for this training, please contact us.

Claire Chapman

With over 15 years of experience as a specialist Speech and Language Therapist working with children, I am now excited to focus on providing dedicated services within schools. After a long and fulfilling career in the NHS, I have recently made the decision to transition into working directly with schools to better support children in their educational environments.

In my current role at The Wyvern School, I aim to bring the same high-quality, evidence-based interventions to schools, where I believe I can make a significant impact by working within the school setting. By embedding speech and language support into children’s daily lives, I can work closely with teachers, parents, and support staff to create a seamless and supportive learning environment. This ensures children receive timely, consistent help where they feel most comfortable – in the classroom or familiar school surroundings.

I am passionate about providing personalized, child-centered therapy that is tailored to each student’s unique needs. I offer one-to-one therapy, small group sessions, and support for school staff through training and collaboration, helping to integrate communication support into everyday classroom activities. My approach is not only focused on addressing immediate challenges but also on empowering children with the skills and confidence they need for long-term success.

I am dedicated to helping every child unlock their communication potential, ensuring they have the tools to express themselves, build relationships, and achieve success in school and beyond.

Zoe Swayne

After qualifying from the University of Reading in 2009, I worked in Early Years, Primary and Secondary School settings within my NHS role. Since 2019, I have been working at Speech4Schools supporting children and young people in Primary and Secondary Schools across Kent and Medway.

I tailor my support for each school depending upon the individual needs of the pupils and the wider need of the school setting. This includes completing assessments, therapy sessions (1:1 / paired / groups), liaising and planning with teachers, in class support for pupils and training with school staff. I am keen to support all children and young people to reach their full communication potential in a range of settings.

Kathryn Gaunt

I have been working as a Speech and Language Therapist since 2017. I am passionate about supporting primary school aged children in their education settings. I have experience of working for the NHS and different independent practices, which has included supporting young people across Kent and Medway (and remotely into Buckinghamshire,  Cambridgeshire and Humber).

I love supporting young people in their education environment and partnering with the staff working with the child throughout the week. I spend time listening to the young person and the staff who know the child well to ensure support is tailored to the child. I have experience in carrying out assessments and reviews and delivering therapy for young people who require support with their speech sounds, language and communication skills and have a variety of diagnoses. I write reports, set relevant targets and provide recommendations that can allow the student to develop their skills.

Alongside working as a Speech and Language Therapist, I enjoy teaching English to those whose first language is a different language, volunteering as a youth and children's worker and spending time outdoors walking and running.

Sarah Brookes

I have been working as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 15 years. Since qualifying from City University, London, I have worked in a variety of settings including special needs schools. I have experience in supporting children aged 2- 19 years old with a variety of Speech, Language and Communication Needs such as Autism, Learning difficulties, language disorders and speech delays.

I joined the Speech4schools team in 2023 and I visit a Primary school in Gravesend. I feel that along with the child's parents, the school staff know the child and their strengths and needs best. I therefore enjoy working in a school environment and enabling those working closest to the children to provide tailored targets, recommendations, and support. I enjoy the challenge of finding different and motivating ways to implement suggested targets to ensure its personal to the child and suitable for that specific class.

Andrew Green

I have been worked as a paediatric Speech and Language Therapist since 2001. I have a special interest in Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and writing detailed reports for EHCP and diagnostic purposes. I worked for many years in the NHS before starting fully independent work over 10 years ago. I work throughout Kent, mainly with individual schools, but also directly with parents. I am currently developing my skills in ASC diagnosis using the ADI-R interview and ADOS-2 assessment. I am a keen supporter of Everton FC and enjoy using both my electric car and bike to travel around Kent, hoping to be the ‘Greenest Speech and Language Therapist’!

Alexia Phillips

I've chosen to work exclusively within schools to positively impact children with Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN). My current role is across 12 schools with a range of children, from mild speech difficulties, complex language impairments and children who are non-verbal. This diverse caseload keeps my work both interesting and challenging. Working in schools allows for flexible working hours, making it easier to balance work and child care. The school staff are incredibly welcoming and really appreciate the support we provide. I believe in building strong partnerships with Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs), Teaching Assistants, and Class Teachers. While my primary role is to assess and review SLCN cases, I find it really rewarding to empower school staff around Speech, Language, and Communication Needs by providing training and drop-in support.