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Speech and Language Development

At Caterpillar Care Centre, we believe that communication is the foundation of learning, relationships, and confidence. Every child deserves the opportunity to express themselves, be understood, and connect with the world around them.

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Our Speech and Language Development Program is specially designed to nurture these essential skills in children from an early age. Guided by international best practices, including the Speech Pathology Australia Communication Milestones framework, this program provides structured support for children at different stages of development — from first words to fluent storytelling.

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Background 

  • Speech & Language Therapy (SLT) focuses on helping children develop essential communication skills: speech clarity, understanding language, expressing thoughts, social interaction, and literacy readiness.

  • It addresses both developmental needs (delayed speech, late talkers) and disorders (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Dyslexia, developmental language disorder).

  • Therapy is play-based, interactive, and family-centred, making it suitable for children in daycare and early intervention programs.

Why Early Intervention Matters

  • Research shows the first 2000 days of life (conception to age 5) are critical for brain and language development.

  • Children who receive therapy before age 5 often catch up with peers faster than those who start later.

  • Delays left untreated can affect school readiness, literacy, and long-term social/emotional development.

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The Australian Model Influence

  • Speech Pathology Australia promotes the “Communication Milestones Kit” and a tiered support model (RTI) used in childcare and schools.

  • This ensures all children are exposed to rich communication experiences, while those who need extra help receive targeted or intensive intervention.

Success in Practice

  • By integrating Australian frameworks + Caterpillar’s holistic care, outcomes can be strong:

    • Early Learners (2–4 yrs): Expected 70–80% milestone achievement within 12–18 months of consistent therapy.

    • Preschoolers (4–6 yrs): Expected 60–75% improvement in speech clarity & storytelling skills, preparing for school.

    • School-age (6–8 yrs): Expected 50–70% gains in reading readiness & academic language with structured support.

  • With parent workshops + CareAble app tracking, Caterpillar can push success rates closer to Australian benchmarks (80–90%).

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