Services

At Early Glow, our kindergarten screening program takes a proactive, whole-class approach to supporting early communication skills. Each child is seen individually for a brief screening (approximately 20 min) that looks at comprehension, expressive language, semantics, following instructions, concepts, narratives, speech sounds, voice, and fluency.

We visit the school and screen the entire class, allowing us to identify children who may benefit from speech therapy support. Where needed, we provide families with information to help them access the appropriate services — whether through the public speech service or private providers of their choice. Early Glow does not offer private therapy, so our screenings are independent and referral-focused, not aimed at generating clients.

Our process is designed to be efficient and inclusive. We dedicate two days per class, usually one week apart, to ensure that any children who are absent can still be seen. Each screening results in a simple, parent-friendly report that outlines key findings and next steps. With parental consent, these reports are also shared with the school to support collaboration between educators and families.

Beyond identifying individual needs, our screenings provide class-wide insights that help teachers understand group strengths and areas for support. We often combine screenings with parent information sessions and Kindergarten Speech Boost groups, helping to reduce pressure on public and private waitlists while strengthening language skills across the whole class.

This holistic, school-based model ensures that no child is overlooked, families receive clear guidance early, and educators are empowered with meaningful information to support every learner’s growth.

We are looking into Screening for Occupational Therapy Skills (fine motor, gross motor, etc), so watch this space.

Our Kindergarten Speech Boost Groups are a unique and proactive way to support children who are at risk of falling behind in their speech or language skills. After completing class-wide screenings, we meet with educators to discuss which students may benefit most from additional small-group support. Teachers are also encouraged to nominate students who would thrive in this setting.

Each group includes up to four students and runs for five 45-minute sessions, typically delivered once a week (though they can also be completed across a single school week if preferred). After the final session, each child is reassessed in a brief follow-up to measure progress. Parents receive a clear, parent-friendly report, and—with consent—a copy is shared with the school.

Our language-focused Boost Groups target key communication areas such as following instructions, vocabulary, semantics, answering questions, and narrative skills. Activities are interactive and engaging, designed to build confidence and enjoyment in communication. We also offer a specialised Speech Sounds Boost Group, currently focused on supporting children with lisps.

What makes Early Glow’s approach unique is that our Boost Groups help to bridge the gap between screening and therapy. By providing early, targeted support within the school environment, we can help reduce the pressure on both public and private waitlists—giving children a valuable head start while they wait for ongoing services, or confirming when additional therapy is truly needed.

This system ensures that the right children receive the right help at the right time, while strengthening outcomes for the whole class.

At Early Glow, we believe that empowering parents and educators is key to supporting children’s communication development. Our information sessions are designed to complement our kindergarten screening program, allowing us to tailor topics to each class’s needs. After screening, we identify class-wide strengths and areas for support, then select topics that are most relevant — or educators can choose the topics they’d like covered.

Sessions are typically held after school or in the evening, and run for 1–2 hours. We focus on practical, therapy-based strategies that parents and teachers can easily use at home or in the classroom. For children with mild difficulties, these approaches can make a real difference — sometimes helping to reduce the need for direct therapy or easing the load on local services.

Our sessions also aim to demystify speech pathology and allied health, helping parents understand what typical communication development looks like and what supports are available if concerns arise.

In addition to parent sessions, we also offer professional development for educators. Schools can select from a list of established topics or request a session tailored to their specific interests and classroom needs.

Together, these sessions strengthen the connection between home and school, ensuring children receive consistent, informed support from all the adults in their world.

At Early Glow, we provide comprehensive speech pathology assessments to support children who may require formal documentation for school funding applications, such as Education Assistant (EA) or Early Intervention (EI) support through agencies like Wanslea. Each assessment is conducted by a qualified speech pathologist and takes approximately 1–2 hours.

The cost is $450 per assessment, which is paid directly by parents. Assessments are completed onsite at the school for convenience and consistency.

This service is ideal for families who need a speech pathology assessment without waiting on lengthy public or private waitlists. While we do not assess for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a speech pathology assessment is often one part of an ASD evaluation.

Our reports are detailed, clear, and ready for use in school and funding applications, helping ensure each child’s communication needs are understood and appropriately supported.

At Early Glow, we assist families and schools with Language Development Centre (LDC) applications for children who present with significant language difficulties or a Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). These programs are designed for children with low language skills, and are not suitable for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), speech sound disorders, or intellectual disabilities.

LDCs are language-rich classes based within mainstream schools, typically supporting students from Kindergarten to Year 1, and sometimes into Year 2. Applications are usually due by mid-September, with placements announced in late October each year. We recommend families have a backup school option in case a placement is not offered.

Applications for Kindergarten entry require only a speech pathology assessment, which takes around 1–2 hours to complete. Applications for Pre-Primary and Year 1 require both a speech pathology assessment and a psychology review (typically done by the school psychologist), so it’s important to begin the process early to allow time for both components before the cut-off date.

At Early Glow, we always complete the speech pathology assessment first to confirm whether an LDC application is appropriate. If needed, a diagnostic report can also be provided to support access to other services or funding, such as Early Intervention, NDIS, or Education Assistant (EA) support.

Our role is to guide schools and families through the process efficiently and compassionately, helping ensure that children with significant language needs can access the most supportive learning environment possible.

The cost is $450 per assessment, which is paid directly by parents. Assessments are completed onsite at the school for convenience and consistency.