Speech Therapy for School Aged Sydney
Speech therapy for school-aged children in Sydney, helping your child speak clearly, understand language, and keep up with reading and writing at school. Kids and Cubs Clinic delivers caring, evidence-based support from our paediatric Speech Pathologists, in clinic at Balmain or online by telehealth.
What Is Speech Therapy for School Aged Children?
Once a child starts school, talking, listening, reading, and writing all carry more weight. Speech therapy for school aged children focuses on the spoken and written communication skills that sit behind classroom learning and friendships.
For some children, the difficulty shows up in how they say sounds or how smoothly they speak. For others, it is harder to spot. They may follow a story but struggle to retell it, read words on a page but miss the meaning, or find group conversations and the playground hard to manage.
A speech pathology assessment looks at where the gaps are, and therapy then targets the specific areas your child needs, so the support stays focused rather than spread thin.
Samantha Malfitano
Director and Principal Speech Pathologist
Samantha is the Director and Principal Speech Pathologist at Kids and Cubs Clinic, founded in 2022. Samantha completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences: Speech Pathology at the University of Sydney (2016) and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
She is an experienced paediatric clinician, having developed a range of skills in her roles at Liverpool Hospital NSW (2017-2022) for the assessment and treatment of children with communication, feeding and developmental difficulties.
She has provided services for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse clients and families, ex-premature babies, and has worked extensively and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams alongside Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Paediatricians, Neonatologists and teachers.
Lucy Smith
Speech Pathologist
Lucy joined the Kids and Cubs Team at the beginning of 2024. She completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane; Queensland and she is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
Lucy has experience as a paediatric clinician from her time working in private practice.
She has experience working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Psychologists as well as education professionals such as Teachers and Learning support staff. She is trained in the Sounds-Write Program, Infant Feeding Foundations (Babble & Munch) and oro-facial myology. She engages in regular professional development across the areas of play, stuttering, and language development.
Natalie Catubig
Speech Pathologist
Natalie joined the Kids and Cubs Clinic team in 2026. She completed her Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Speech Pathology) at the University of Sydney in 2025 and is a registered member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).
Natalie has experience working with children across a range of settings, including school and clinic environments. She has supported students with speech, language, and literacy needs, and has worked collaboratively with teachers and families to enhance children’s participation in everyday activities.
Natalie is committed to evidence-based and family-centred practice and engages in ongoing professional development to support her clinical growth.
Funding
NDIS
- Self-managed funding
- Plan-managed funding
Private Health Insurance
- Please consult your private health provider to determine eligibility and rebate amounts.
Medicare
- Chronic Disease Management plan (previously known as Enhanced Primary Care plan)
- Please discuss Medicare funding options with your GP
SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY NEED SPEECH THERAPY
- Unclear speech- still mispronouncing sounds that most children their age have mastered, so listeners often ask them to repeat
- Trouble following instructions - missing steps, needing things repeated, or struggling to keep up with classroom directions
- Word finding and retelling -knowing what they want to say but getting stuck, or finding it hard to retell a story or event to
- Reading and spelling that lag - difficulty sounding out words, slow reading, weak spelling, or reading without understanding what was read
- Stuttering or speech that is not smooth - repeating sounds or words, stretching sounds, or getting stuck mid-word
- Social and playground difficulty - finding it hard to join in, take turns in conversation, or make and keep friends
How Speech Therapy Helps at School Age
- Clearer communication - a better ability to express needs, thoughts, and feelings, so your child is understood the first time.
- Classroom confidence - understanding and following instructions, taking part in class, and completing work with less stress
- Stronger literacy -decoding, spelling, and reading comprehension that support the rest of the school curriculum
- Easier friendships -improved back-and-forth conversation and social skills, reducing frustration and building confidence.
- Skills that carry home - strategies your family can use at home, so progress keeps building between sessions
AREAS WE SUPPORT
Speech Sounds, Fluency, and Voice
We help children pronounce sounds correctly, speak more smoothly where there is stuttering, and use a healthy pitch, volume, and voice quality, so they are clear and easy to understand.
Understanding and Using Language
We build both sides of language, expressive (putting thoughts into words) and receptive (understanding what is said), along with the social communication skills your child needs for conversations, group work, and the playground.
Reading, Writing, and Spelling
We support decoding and spelling, reading comprehension, and written expression, using evidence-based synthetic phonics programs that line up with how reading is taught at school.
HOW YOUR THERAPY JOURNEY WORKS
Initial Assessment
Your first session is a detailed assessment. We listen to your child, observe how they speak, understand, read, and interact, ask about your concerns, and answer every question you have.
A Clear Therapy Plan
You receive a written summary, our impression, and a recommended plan. Therapy may run one-on-one, in small groups, or school-based, using games, visuals, and structured phonics to keep learning engaging.
Ongoing Therapy and Home Practice
Your child works through their plan with regular sessions, supported by simple home practice built into everyday routines. We monitor progress and meet with you to review and adjust goals.
WHY SYDNEY PARENTS CHOOSE KIDS AND CUBS CLINIC
Funding Options
We support NDIS, Medicare, and private health rebates to make accessing child speech therapy easier for families in Balmain and nearby Inner West suburbs. Our team helps guide you through the process so your child can begin therapy without unnecessary delays.
Experienced Paediatric Speech Pathologists
Our clinic focuses entirely on helping children develop strong communication skills. Our paediatric speech pathologists work closely with kids of all ages, providing personalised therapy for speech, language, and communication challenges.
Evidence-Based Speech Therapy
Every therapy program we provide is built on modern research and proven speech pathology methods. This means children receive effective support that improves speech clarity, language development,t and confidence over time.
Support That Works Alongside School
We connect therapy goals to classroom learning, including reading, spelling, and following instructions, and can work with selected schools so the support your child receives at the clinic carries over into their school day.
Get The Right Speech Support for Your Child's Development
What Parents Says
Frequently Asked Questions
What age groups do you see for school aged speech therapy?
We work with primary and high school aged children. If you are unsure whether therapy is right for your child’s age or stage, an assessment will give you a clear answer.
My child's speech is clear, but they struggle with reading. Can speech therapy help?
Yes. Speech pathology covers more than speech sounds. We support reading, spelling, and comprehension using structured phonics, which often makes a real difference for children who find literacy hard.
Do you offer telehealth for school aged children in Sydney?
Yes. Many school-aged sessions translate well to telehealth. Your child will need a quiet space, a reliable internet connection, and a parent nearby for younger children.
Can therapy happen at my child's school?
School-based therapy is available for selected schools. Please enquire, and we will let you know what is possible for your child’s school.
How long will my child need therapy?
It depends on the areas being worked on and your child’s goals. After the initial assessment, you will receive a recommended plan with an indication of session numbers, and we will review progress regularly.
Will I be involved in the therapy?
Yes. You are part of the process. We share strategies and short home practice activities so progress keeps building between sessions, and we meet with you to review goals.