Stammering Support in England: A Call to Action

Action for Stammering Children (ASC) has  published a new national report, “Specialist support for childhood stammering in England: Barriers and facilitators to accessing services” which reveals significant challenges families face in accessing timely and appropriate speech and language therapy (SLT) despite most NHS Trusts in England reporting specialist stammering expertise. 

The report was launched at a Parliamentary Reception on 3rd April, hosted by Mr. David Pinto-Duschinsky MP and Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, Vice-President of ASC and former Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. The event brought together policymakers, practitioners, parents, and charity supporters.  

Based on data from 65 NHS Trusts in England and focus groups with families and speech and language therapists, the report found that: 

• 92% of Trusts reported specialist expertise for stammering within their local speech and language therapy service 

• 83% of Trusts accept self-referrals from parents and carers, which enable families to make a referral without having to go through their GP or school 

• The average wait for an initial appointment was 3.6 months, with some families waiting significantly longer to begin therapy 

• Services typically offered 6.5 individual sessions and 5.6 group sessions per block 

Despite this encouraging baseline, focus groups with parents and interviews with SLTs highlighted widespread inconsistencies in service access. Families often struggled to find clear, accessible information about local support, and many were unaware that self-referral was even possible. Variability in signposting, waiting times, and local capacity remains a major concern, compounded by workforce shortages and funding challenges. These challenges, cited by parents and professionals alike, further delay access to early intervention, which is essential to offsetting longer-term social and emotional difficulties, and adverse mental health outcomes in adolescence.  

Rt. Hon. Ed Balls, Vice-President of Action for Stammering Children, said: 

“Accessing specialist support early on has the potential to offset the longer-term negative impact of stammering on children’s confidence, resilience, aspirations and future opportunities. The complexity, individuality and often-overlooked impact of stammering requires specialist expertise, which should be protected, promoted and invested in.” 

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Director of Policy and Public Affairs Derek Munn says: “Speech and language therapists want children who stammer to be able to access their services as quickly as possible – not just for an initial assessment but also for follow-up support.  It’s good news that 92% of services have specialist expertise in stammering – we welcome this report as we seek to make it 100%.”

The report underscores the variability in service provision across England and highlights the importance of involving families in the planning and delivery of services. ASC is calling on commissioners, paediatric SLT providers, and key decision makers to implement seven key recommendations including improved training, increased investment in services, clearer public signposting, and a stronger focus on co-designed, inclusive care pathways. 

Ria Bernard, CEO of Action for Stammering Children, commented: 

“This report exposes the challenges that so many families are facing across the country. We know that stammering impacts the whole family, and that it can be an incredibly anxious time for parents when their child begins to stammer. Understanding where and how they can access clinical services is vital to ensuring these children get the right support early on. Making information about local services readily and easily accessible, alongside investing in speech and language therapy services, will enable us to better meet the needs of the 8% of children who stammer.” 

Read the report: Read Here

Notes to Editors 

• About Stammering
  Stammering, also known as stuttering, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the fluency of spoken words and typically begins between the ages of 2 and 5. It may involve repetitions, prolongations, or blocks in speech.  

• Around 8% of children will stammer at some point, and approximately 1% continue to stammer into adulthood.  

• While boys and girls are equally likely to begin stammering, boys are significantly more likely to continue stammering into adolescence.  

• Stammering is not caused by anxiety or low intelligence, but is influenced by a range of genetic, neurological and environmental factors — and early, specialist support can make a powerful difference. 

About Action for Stammering Children:
Action for Stammering Children is the UK charity for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the communities who support them. We provide support and information, champion research, and campaign for policy and societal change. 

Media Contact:
Heela Yoon – Communications, Impact & Engagement Officer
[email protected]