Mable Therapy launches MELCS tool to identify early speech and language needs in UK schools

Mable Therapy has introduced the Mable Early Language and Communication Screener (MELCS), a tool designed to help UK schools identify young children at risk of Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN). 

The tool targets reception-aged children (4-5 years old), assessing key language development skills such as phonological processing, memory, and grammar comprehension.

MELCS uses tasks like non-word repetition and sentence repetition to evaluate children and provide educators with a detailed overview of each child’s language capabilities. The platform offers a consistent, automated assessment process that eliminates bias and reduces variability caused by differing opinions of assessors.

The tool’s interface simplifies the screening process for teachers, allowing them to identify students needing additional support without diverting attention from classroom management. MELCS also provides recommendations for next steps, such as teacher-led interventions or referrals for further therapy.

Martha Currie, Clinical Director and co-founder of Mable Therapy, commented:

“Language skills change the way a child experiences not only school but their entire life. It influences academic attainment, social connection, and personal confidence, yet research suggests that a growing number of children are struggling with communication skills.

Schools are perfectly placed to identify children who may require additional SLCN support, but they currently lack the tools they need to do this consistently. MELCS has been designed to address that problem.”

The Kemnals Academy Trust (TKAT) trialed the screener and is now implementing it across its 29 primary schools in London and the South and East of England. 

Gianni Bianchi, TKAT Director of Primary Education, stated:

"It has been really positive to work with Mable Therapy on piloting this scheme, and we are now implementing it in all 29 of our primary schools across London and the South and East of England. It's great to have an efficient and effective speech and language screener that produces succinct reports for our school teams to use with children to help them progress."

Currie described MELCS as Mable Therapy’s most ambitious project to date:

“MELCS is by far the most ambitious project we have embarked upon at Mable, but we are confident that it will make SLCN screening simpler, more efficient, and more effective for schools, and to help a lot more children to overcome their difficulties and reach their full potential.”