An Introduction to Paediatric Dysphagia
Curious about paediatric dysphagia but not sure where to start? This 1-hour course gives you a clear, practical foundation — whether you're a student, a newly qualified practitioner, or considering a move from adult services.
Enrol Now£19.99 · Instant access
Is This Course for You?
We designed this for speech and language therapists at a crossroads — the ones asking themselves "is paediatric dysphagia something I could do?"
SLT Students
You've had a taste of dysphagia in lectures but want a clearer picture of what paediatric work actually looks like day-to-day.
Newly Qualified Practitioners
You're building your career and want to explore whether paediatric feeding is the right fit before committing to a specialist role.
Moving from Adult Services
You're experienced with adult dysphagia and curious about the paediatric side — but it feels like a completely different world.
Simply Curious
You've heard the term, you're interested, and you want a solid overview from clinicians who work in this field every day.
What We'll Cover
A practical overview of what paediatric dysphagia is, what working in this field looks like, and how to know if it's right for you.
Research in Paediatric Dysphagia
Where the evidence stands — and what that means for your clinical practice.
The Role of the SLT
From neonatal units through to young adults — what you'll actually be doing across different settings and age groups.
Anatomy & Physiology
A clear walk-through of the structures and swallowing phases you need to understand.
Ages & Stages
How feeding development unfolds — and what to watch for at each stage.
Paediatric Feeding Disorder
Understanding the framework, terminology and our role within this area of feeding therapy.
Assessment & Intervention
The fundamentals of clinical assessment and the intervention approaches you'll encounter.
The Feeding MDT
Who you'll be working alongside and their role in feeding and swallowing.
Difficult Conversations
How to approach sensitive topics with families with honesty and compassion.
Application Tips & Transferable Skills
Practical guidance on making your application stand out if this is where you want to be.
Why We Built This
Paediatric dysphagia is one of the most rewarding areas of speech and language therapy — but it's also one of the most under-taught. Many graduates and early-career therapists tell us the same thing: they're interested, but they don't feel prepared.
This course won't make you a specialist. It's not designed to. What it will do is give you a clear, honest picture of what this field involves — so you can decide whether it's right for you, with confidence.
"Think of this as a conversation with two colleagues who are a few steps ahead — sharing what we wish someone had told us when we were starting out."
Meet Your Instructors
We're Chelsea and Savannah — two paediatric SLTs who've spent our careers working with children with feeding and swallowing difficulties. We built this course because we remember what it felt like not to know where to start.
Chelsea Ridge
Paediatric SLT
Chelsea is from Ireland and trained at City University London, graduating with a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy in 2014. She also holds a PGDip in Paediatrics and Child Health from Imperial College London, a diploma in child nutrition, and is trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding Therapy, Makaton, Hanen, and Elklan — and is a SOFFI Certified professional. She has spent her career working with babies, toddlers, and young children with feeding and communication needs, and runs Eat Chat Play. She's known for her calm, clear way of breaking down complex clinical concepts into something that actually makes sense.
Savannah Senior
Paediatric SLT & IBCLC
Savannah trained in South Africa and holds a BSc in Speech and Language Therapy and an MSc in Advanced Paediatrics. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), trained in the SOS Approach to Feeding Therapy, a SOFFI Certified professional, and has completed additional training in Makaton. She has worked in the UK for over a decade with paediatric feeding, swallowing and dysphagia, and runs Learn to Feed. She's known for her warm, whole-child approach and for turning overwhelming clinical information into clear, practical steps.
What Others Are Saying
This course was originally delivered as a live webinar. Here's what participants had to say.
Excellent event! Really enjoyed it and the hosts were very knowledgeable.
Great touch on dysphagia, not overloaded with information, yet I felt I learnt a lot within 1 hr. 1 hr was perfect time, price was affordable. There was time for additional questions at the end which was great.
I really enjoyed this course.
Really great webinar with lots of information. Fingers crossed I can book onto the more in depth course!!
It was a useful refresher on anatomy etc and good to see that I am basically doing the right things to work towards becoming a dysphagia trained SALT.
The Practical Bits
1 Hour
Pre-recorded, watch at your own pace
Video-Based
Clear video lessons with supporting slides
6 Months Access
Return whenever you need a refresher
£19.99
Because knowledge shouldn't be a barrier
Questions You Might Have
This is an introductory course — it's designed to give you a clear overview of what paediatric dysphagia involves, not to replace supervised clinical experience. Think of it as the starting point that helps you decide if this is the direction you want to go in.
Absolutely. Many of the therapists who've taken this course came from adult services. Your existing knowledge gives you a solid foundation, and this course highlights the key differences — the anatomy, the developmental considerations, and the way we approach families.
Once you've enrolled, you have 6 months access. Watch it in one sitting, spread it over a few weeks, or come back for a refresher before an interview — it's yours for the full 6 months.
This course is developed and delivered by experienced, practising clinicians. We'd recommend checking with your employer or professional body about how they accept self-directed CPD, as this can vary.
Yes — our Paediatric Dysphagia Crash Course is the natural next step. It goes considerably deeper — covering anatomy in detail, full swallowing physiology, assessment frameworks, evidence-based intervention, and two real case studies. If this course gives you the overview, the Crash Course gives you the clinical foundation to feel genuinely prepared.
Yes — we offer a 14-day refund policy, provided you haven't accessed more than 30% of the course content. We want you to feel confident in your purchase.
Ready to See If Paediatric Dysphagia Is for You?
One hour. A clear foundation. And two clinicians who genuinely want to help you figure out your next step.
Enrol Now£19.99 · 6 months access