The EHCP Assessment Team
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Claire Sinclair - Speech and Language Therapist
Claire is an experienced speech and language therapist with over 15 years of clinical practice across the NHS, specialist education, and independent settings. She leads all EHCP assessments at Speech Boom — writing the reports, liaising with local authorities, and supporting families through the process from beginning to end.
- 18+ years clinical experience in speech and language therapy
- HCPC registered - SL27168
- RCSLT member - RC0024228
- Member of ASLTIP – 3767
- Certified Expert Witness (Bond Solon in association with Cardiff University) —experienced in producing clear, legally compliant reports
- Specialist in school‑base
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Marisa Ciesla - Speech and Language Therapist
Marisa has over 20 years of experience as a speech and language therapist. She founded Speech Boom out of a desire to create a place where children with speech, language and communication needs could come with their families and receive expert, joined-up support. 20+ years clinical experience in speech and language therapy
- HCPC registered
- RCSLT member
- Member of ASLTIP
- Specialist in autism, selective mutism, DLD, social communication, PDA and complex EHCP profiles
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Rachel Okesola - Speech and Language Therapist
Rachel is a fully qualified speech and language therapist with over 15 years of experience working with children and young people in specialist school settings and early years. She works closely with families and educators to make sure that progress continues beyond the therapy room — which matters enormously when a child's EHCP targets need to be carried through into school life.
- 15+ years experience in specialist school and early years settings — understands exactly how EHCP provision translates into the classroom
- HCPC registered
- RCSLT member
- Member of ASLTIP
- Master's degree in Dyslexia assessment and diagnosis — particularly valuable for children with overlapping literacy and communication profiles, which are very common in EHCP cases.
- Passionate about minimising barriers to learning — and experienced at writing therapy targets that schools can actually deliver.
- Works closely with families to ensure EHCP recommendations are practical, specific and measurable.
Why families choose to work with us
Our team brings together deep clinical expertise, specialist EHCP knowledge, and real experience working inside the systems that shape children’s support. This combination means our assessments and reports are not only clinically robust, but strategically written to secure the provision your child needs.
Extensive experience with local authorities, EHCPs and SEND tribunals
All of our therapists have worked directly with local authorities, specialist schools, and mainstream schools and NHS services. We understand how decisions are made, what evidence carries weight, and how to write reports that stand up to scrutiny.
Specialist training and qualifications relevant to EHCPs and tribunals
Our team includes therapists with expert witness certification, postgraduate training, and specialist qualifications that strengthen the quality and credibility of our assessments.
Expertise across complex profiles and a wide age range
We work with children and young people with a broad range of needs, including:
Autism, PDA profiles, and social communication differences
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Selective mutism
Complex, multi‑layered EHCP profiles
Early years through to secondary age
This breadth means we can identify subtle needs, understand how they present in real‑world settings, and recommend provision that is both ambitious and achievable.
Experience across NHS, school and independent practice
Our therapists have worked in:
NHS community teams
Specialist and mainstream schools
Independent practice
This gives us a 360‑degree understanding of how support is delivered, what schools can realistically implement, and how to write recommendations that are both legally enforceable and practical.
Skilled in annual reviews and co‑producing EHCPs
We regularly attend:
Annual review meetings
Multi‑disciplinary planning meetings
Parent consultations
Tribunal hearings (optional add‑on)We work collaboratively with families, schools, and local authorities to ensure the EHCP accurately reflects a child’s needs and includes provision that is specific, quantified, and legally enforceable.