Service to reduce waiting time from several months to 48 hours

The collaboration sees the leading learning company team up with Europe’s biggest online specialist support network to provide schools with improved access to qualified speech and language therapists and children’s counsellors even while many pupils are currently learning from home. The service will be available to all schools in the UK and is a distinct move away from the traditional speech and language therapy and counselling experience, often hindered by lengthy referral processes and inflexible costs.

Pearson will combine Mable’s advanced digital network with their educational experience and reach to provide affordable support and much improved referral times. By working together, both organisations say they expect to reduce the average waiting period from several months to an average of 48 hours.

The announcement comes in response to growing concern for the wellbeing and speech and language attainment of children as a result of the global pandemic and the extension of England’s third national lockdown. During the pandemic, Mable say they have already received a 50% increase in referrals.

Last month, the Prince's Trust annual survey¹ of young people’s happiness and confidence returned its worst findings to date with a quarter of young people saying they feel unable to cope with life. 2020 Special Educational Needs in England data² highlighted that speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) is the most common type of need recorded among pupils with SEN support.

With many schools increasingly worried by the current barriers to targeted and specialist support, Pearson and Mable believe launching this service now will offer welcome relief to overburdened teachers and special educational needs and disabilities coordinators (SENCOs).

Sharon Hague, Senior Vice President of Pearson UK Schools, said: “Thousands of children are unable to access the speech and language therapy or mental health support they desperately need and the global pandemic is making it worse. We’ve partnered with Mable Therapy to help address this urgent situation.

“We hope by increasing access to specialist support and reducing waiting times we can open up greater opportunities for more children to get the help they need, when they need it.”

Martha Currie, Clinical Director and Co-founder of Mable Therapy, said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Pearson to offer our online clinical services. At Mable, we are passionate about supporting children and young people to get the specialist support they need when they need it.

“We’re confident that our collaboration with Pearson will mean many more children are able to access essential speech and language and mental health support. With the help of our specialist clinicians and cutting-edge technology, more children will be able to access our essential services and show the world what they’re capable of.”

To find out more, please visit go.pearson.com/mableandpearson