Why Your Child's Communication Can't Wait - with Kate Burgess, Speech & Language Therapist

Episode 9, Season 3: In this episode I'm joined by Kate Burgess: Speech and Language Therapist of 16 years and founder of We Can CommuniKate - a private clinic in the South West of England.

Kate's passion for this work is deeply personal - an early experience of watching her sister fight to be understood in a system that was not hugely supportive was her driving force.

We talked about:

👉🏻 Why early intervention is imperative - and why "wait and see" can cost our children dearly
👉🏻 The spectrum of Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)
👉🏻 Why communication is so much more than words
👉🏻 How the NHS referral process works - and why it varies between trusts
👉🏻 The power of routine and visuals in helping children listen and understand
👉🏻 The frustrating truth about the SEND system - why waiting until school is too late, and where the government's £4 billion investment really needs to go
👉🏻 Kate's 3 practical tips for fostering brilliant communication skills from day one

This episode genuinely changed how I think about communication and Kate is cleary an expert in this field - whether you have a 10 month old or a 2 year old (and beyond), this is a must-listen!

🔗 Article referenced: The Cost to the Nation of Children's Poor Communication

Connect with Kate:
🌐 Website: www.wecancommunikate.co.uk
📲 Instagram: @wecancommunikate

Laura's Links:

📲 Find Everything Here

📲 Instagram: @themindfulgeneration

📲 Connect on LinkedIn

Brand Partnership & Listener Discount

This episode is brought to you by KARRI - the screen-free voice messenger designed to help children explore the world with confidence, while staying safely connected to the people who matter most.

Loved by kids. Trusted by parents.

You can pre-order the Messenger 2 (available May 2026) here: 👉 https://karri.io/collections/all

Or purchase the Messenger 1 now and receive 15% off with code MINDFULGEN15: 👉 Click on this link where the discount has already been applied: https://g1.karri.io/collections/all?view=aa

(Offer valid until 30/04/2026)

If this episode resonated, please follow the podcast, rate and share it with another parent who needs this conversation 💛