Kids Speech Labs

The Kids Speech Labs pilot project was delivered through the Smart D8 2024 pilot call to better understand and respond to the speech and language development needs of children living in Dublin 8. Working closely with early years providers, schools and community organisations, the pilot addressed a critical gap in local data and support at a time when many families are experiencing long waiting lists and limited access to Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) services.

Early speech and language development plays a vital role in children’s learning, confidence and long-term wellbeing. However, a lack of accessible data and clear pathways for support has made it difficult for families and practitioners to know where to turn when concerns arise. The Kids Speech Labs pilot set out to change this by combining community insight, data collection and practical, easy to use resources for parents and early years professionals.

As the first phase of the pilot, Kids Speech Labs engaged with 21 early years provider organisations across Dublin 8, including schools and community-based services, to capture the experiences of parents and educators through a survey. The survey revealed that 67% of families had concerns about their child’s speech or language development. The findings also highlighted important inequalities. Among families who reported concerns, a significant majority related to boys, and many came from multilingual households. The pilot uncovered that a large proportion of children with potential speech and language delays are not represented on official HSE waiting lists, meaning that the scale of need is likely underreported.

By generating this locally grounded data, the Kids Speech Labs pilot filled an important evidence gap and provided valuable insight into the lived experience of families and early years providers in Dublin 8. In response to the needs identified through the survey, Kids Speech Labs developed a resource repository in collaboration with a qualified Speech and Language Therapist. The resources were designed to support parents who are waiting for assessment or therapy and to provide early years practitioners with clear, trusted guidance they could use in their day-to-day work.

The resource repository was shared directly with survey respondents, early years organisations and schools across Dublin 8. It was made available both as a downloadable document and as an open-access webpage, ensuring it could be easily accessed and shared within the community. By the end of 2024, the resource page had received over 140 visits, with families actively engaging with practical guidance and signposted support.

The most frequently accessed resources focused on early speech milestones, how to support communication at home and when to seek further help. Families were also offered access to translated versions of the resources to support inclusion within multilingual households.

Feedback from early years organisations highlighted the value of having a clear, practical resource to support families navigating speech and language concerns.

“Lots of children and parents will benefit from having this information.” – Early Years Provider, Dublin 8

By equipping parents and practitioners with reliable information and signposting, the pilot helped to reduce uncertainty and empower families to take early, informed action to support their children’s development.

The Kids Speech Labs pilot also generated important learning around the scale of unmet need. While national prevalence estimates suggest that around 10% of children experience speech and language delays, this local study indicated that almost one in four children may have potential delays. Despite this, only a small proportion of families had accessed speech and language therapy services. These findings reinforce the importance of early intervention, accessible information and community-based support, particularly in areas experiencing health inequalities and service constraints.

Kids Speech Labs will continue working with partners in Dublin 8 to explore opportunities to build on this work and support families through innovative, accessible solutions.