The Team

Hannah Bedford 
Deputy Speech and Language Therapist & Training Lead

Hannah's role with Communicate involves devising and running the majority of our training sessions as well as helping Emma to support the team.  She brings to Communicate a number of years of experience with both the NHS and Local Authority working with children with language disorders as her specialism.

As well as organising our training and being an Elklan trainer, she has additional training in:
• Language Disorders
• The Listening Program
• Hanen
• Lidcome Programme & Palin PCI

Hannah never goes far without some "springy spiders"

Email:  communicate.hannah@gmail.com
Mobile: 07738 967901

Hayley Baker
Speech & Language Therapist

Hayley spends a lot of time getting to know her children and their families, and makes her therapy really motivating. 

She has additional training in:

• BSL
• Dentition

Hayley never goes far without “each child’s favourite thing … it’s a big bag somedays”!

Email:  communicate.hayleybaker@gmail.com

Zoe Banham 
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Zoe is passionate about hearing loss and fulfils our hearing impairment specialist role. 

She has additional training in: 
• Hearing Impairment
• BSL and Signalong
• The Solihull Approach

Zoe never goes far without "multiple wind-up toys"

Email:  communicate.zoe@gmail.com
Mobile: 07507 897330

Laura Edwards
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Laura has extensive experience in early years having most recently worked in Colchester.  She has a specialist interest in working with parents of young children to support and encourage their child’s communication development.

She has specialist training in:

• Attention Autism
• PECS
• Intensive Interaction
• Makaton

Laura never goes far without “some very exciting attention-grabbing toys”.

Email:  communicate.lauraedwards@gmail.com
Mobile: 07759 918628

Bethan Franklin 
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Bethan has spent most of her career in adult learning difficulties and autism.  She came to us having led the speech and language therapy team at Autism Anglia and her specialism is in autism.

As well as being our Makaton tutor, she also has additional training in:
• Intensive Interaction
• Total Communication
• Makaton
• PECS
• TEACCH

Bethan never goes far without "the shopping list game".

Email:  communicate.bethan@gmail.com
Mobile: 07762 303146

Sophie Hancock
Speech & Language Therapist

Sophie is passionate about non-verbal communication (AAC) and integrating this into mainstream schools.

She has additional training in:
• AAC
• Signalong
• Learning Difficulties
• Attention Autism

Sophie never goes far without "play dough"

Email:  communicate.sophie@gmail.com
Mobile:  07545 568663

Alice Hansey
Speech & Language Therapist

Alice ensures that she takes the time to really get to know our preschool children with more complex difficulties.

She has additional training in:
• Attention Autism
• PECS
• Makaton
• LEGO® Based Therapy

Sophie never goes far without her "comfy trousers so I can really join in!"

Email:  communicate.alice@gmail.com

Gemma Lewis
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Gemma coordinates and supports our Student Speech & Language Therapists whilst they are on their clinical placement with us. Her main interest is in pre-school communication difficulties.

She has additional training in:
• Makaton
• Palin PCI

Gemma never goes far without "a crazy hand puppet"

Email: communicate.gemma@gmail.com
Mobile:  07917 571435

Johannah McSorley
Speech & Language Therapist & Enquires Lead

Jo is our enquiries lead, pulling everything together seamlessly for our families.  You will be speaking to Jo when you initially enquire and she will help to guide you through our process.

Jo is particularly passionate about working with bilingual families and those needing a more holistic approach.   

She has additional training in:
• Person-Centred Approach
• Palin PCI
• Bilingualism

Jo never goes far without "a flashing bouncy ball"

Email: communicate.johannah@gmail.com
Mobile:  07498 287488

Ellie Pass
Speech & Language Therapist

Ellie enjoys working closely with other professionals in a team and her main interest is in mainstream complex needs.

She has additional training in:
• PECS
• Hearing Impairment
• Attention Autism

Ellie never goes far without "the smelly wellies game and a flashing-light fan"

Email:  communicate.ellie@gmail.com

Linda Watkins
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Linda has spent her career as a paediatric therapist, most recently in South Chelmsford as the team leader. She has a number of years experience in various paediatric settings, making Developmental Language Disorders, Speech Disorders and Autism her specialist interests.

As well as being an ELKLAN trainer, she has additional training in:

• Language Disorders
• Speech Disorders
• Palin PCI
• ADOS

Linda never goes far without "the dolls house furniture"

Email:  communicate.linda@gmail.com
Mobile: 07749 036191

Lauren Woodhead
Specialist Speech & Language Therapist

Lauren has been a Speech & Language Therapist for more than 20 years. Most recently she has specialised in Developmental Language Disorder and Speech Sounds Disorders, working in a Specialist Resource Base. 

As well as being an ELKLAN trainer, she has specialist training in:

• Makaton
• Hanen
• Colourful Semantics
• Stammering
• PECS

Linda never goes far without "a fun board game".

Email:  communicate.lauren@gmail.com

Katherine Bradshaw
Speech & Language Therapist

Kat's main interest is in school-age communication difficulties including children with specific learning difficulties.

She has additional training in:
• Dyslexia
• ASD
• Secondary School

Kat never goes far without "dolls and their furniture"

Email:  communicate.katbradshaw@gmail.com
Mobile:  07866 399711