1. Overview

These Terms outline fees, payment arrangements, and professional standards for services provided by Sussex Speech Studio Ltd. All sessions are delivered by Margaret Shaw, HCPC-registered Speech and Language Therapist and certified member of the RCSLT. Therapy is evidence-based, tailored to each child, and planned in partnership with families and schools.

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2. Consultations and assessment

• Free initial phone consultation (up to 15 minutes) — to discuss your child's needs and outline the service

• Initial consultation & assessment — £100 (up to 1 hour, including a brief written summary)

• Review appointment — £100 (up to 1 hour, including a brief written summary)

• Detailed assessment/reassessment — £350 (up to 3 hours, includes assessment, analysis, and detailed report)

• Written report — £150 (standalone or additional report if requested)

Special circumstances: In complex cases, longer assessments or additional visits (e.g. school observations) may be recommended. Additional time is charged at £100/hour and will always be agreed in advance.

 

Accurate assessment is essential for effective therapy planning. Findings may differ from initial expectations. Therapy effectiveness varies for each child and cannot be guaranteed.

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3. Therapy sessions

• Standard therapy session — £100 (up to 60 minutes face-to-face, including planning, preparation and liaison)

• 45-minute session — £75 (by prior agreement)

• 30-minute session — £50 (by prior agreement)

• Extended time — +£50 per additional 30 minutes (agreed in advance where extra time is required)

Therapy is usually arranged in a block of sessions, followed by review and discussion. Families are free to withdraw from therapy at any time. If therapy appears no longer effective, this will be discussed and a joint decision made.

Right to discontinue therapy:

Therapy is a collaborative process. In rare circumstances, sessions may need to be paused or ended - for example, if continued work becomes unsafe or not in the child's best interests (e.g. persistent distress, unsafe behaviour, or environmental risks).

Any decision to discontinue therapy will be discussed with parents/carers, and alternative options will be signposted where possible.

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4. School visits and meetings

• School/nursery visit or meeting — £100/hour (with parental consent; extra time charged pro-rata)

• Case conferences/professional meetings — £100/hour (with parental consent; extra time charged pro-rata)
  Parents are encouraged to attend or receive a feedback summary. Therapy in schools is charged at the standard session rate.

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5. Training and workshops

Talks, workshops or training for parents and professionals are available at £100/hour, plus travel if applicable. Preparation and resource time are charged at the same rate (agreed in advance).

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6. Travel

Travel is free within Brighton & Hove, Peacehaven and Newhaven. For travel beyond these areas, a mileage or time-based fee may apply and will be agreed in advance.

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7. Payment

• Therapy invoices are normally issued monthly, payable within 7 days.

• Assessment/report fees are due on receipt of the final report and invoice.

• Payment by bank transfer (details on invoice).

• Private health insurance: clients are responsible for payment to Sussex Speech Studio Ltd and then claiming reimbursement from their insurer (please confirm cover before commencing therapy).

• Late payments: if invoices remain unpaid after 14 days, a £25 administrative charge may be applied unless alternative arrangements are agreed.

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8. Cancellations

Please give at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, may be charged in full — except in cases of illness or emergency. If the therapist needs to cancel due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, as much notice as possible will be given and the session will be rescheduled or not billed.

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9. Liaison and collaboration

Effective therapy often involves collaboration with other professionals. Reports will be sent to parents/carers for distribution. With your consent, I may liaise directly with NHS therapists, teachers or other professionals to ensure consistent support. All liaison and report sharing will take place with your written or verbal consent in line with our Privacy Policy.

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10. Safeguarding and professional conduct

I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and follow RCSLT and HCPC guidance and standards. I hold professional indemnity insurance through the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

 

If you ever have a concern or would like to discuss any aspect of this service, please feel free to contact me.

You also have the right to raise a concern directly with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) at any time via www.hcpc-uk.org.

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All safeguarding information is handled confidentially and only shared where required by law or professional duty of care.

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11. Confidentiality and data protection

All information is treated as confidential and managed in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Electronic records are stored securely within WriteUpp (GDPR-compliant clinical software).

Secure systems including Google Workspace and Adobe Acrobat Pro are used for communication and handling forms.

Encrypted email and password-protected documents are used for sharing reports or sensitive information and email copies are deleted once files have been uploaded to WriteUpp.

Data is retained for seven years after discharge (or until age 25 for children, whichever is longer), in accordance with professional and legal requirements.

For full details of how your information is collected, used, and shared, please refer to the Privacy Policy.

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12. Liability

All reasonable care is taken during assessment and therapy. Sussex Speech Studio Ltd cannot accept responsibility for outcomes where recommendations are not implemented or where external factors affect progress.

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13. Contact and version control

For questions about these terms please contact:

Margaret Shaw • margaret@sussexspeechstudio.com • 07472 367193

Last updated: December 2025

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If you have any questions about fees, invoicing or cancellations, you’re welcome to get in touch.

 

You can also read more about the therapy process on our Getting Started page.

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You’ll also find more answers about cancellations and billing in our FAQ.