Everything you might want to know before your child joins us.

Getting started with LumaNest is simple. Tick the box in the Let's Talk section with your name and contact details, and our admin team will get in touch to arrange a conversation about your child and a referral form. We want registration to feel like the beginning of a conversation, not a referral process — you don't need a formal diagnosis or to have already accessed speech and language therapy to enquire.

No. LumaNest is for children who may benefit from additional support with communication, interaction, confidence, play or participation, whether or not they have a formal diagnosis. We know families can wait a long time for assessments, or may simply know their child finds communication or social situations difficult without yet having a name for why. Our approach is needs-led rather than diagnosis-led — we focus on understanding your child: what they enjoy, how they communicate, and where they might need a little extra support.

LumaNest currently welcomes children aged 3–10. Children in this range can have very different communication profiles, abilities and interests, so our sessions aren't based simply on age — activities are adapted to suit the individual children attending.

Yes, there is a cost. There's a cost for LumaNest communication and respite sessions, and a separate cost for individual consultations. Get in touch via the Let's Talk section and we can talk you through pricing based on your child's needs. As a Community Interest Company, our aim is to make high-quality communication-focused respite more accessible to families, and we're always transparent about cost before your child starts.

LumaNest is a communication-focused respite service for children aged 3–10 and their families. We create welcoming spaces where children can play, explore, communicate and build relationships, while parents and carers get some valuable time for themselves. Our sessions are informed by speech, language and communication expertise, but LumaNest is not a replacement for NHS or private speech and language therapy — we bring communication-supportive practice into an enjoyable, child-led environment. Our belief is simple: children communicate best when they feel safe, understood, and interested in what they're doing.

No. LumaNest is not a direct speech and language therapy service. Sessions are communication-focused and informed by speech and language therapy expertise, but they're built around play, interaction and respite rather than formal assessment or individual clinical therapy. Where appropriate, we encourage children to practise communication naturally through play and everyday activities — and if we feel your child may benefit from specialist assessment or therapy, we'll suggest discussing this with your existing professionals or seeking an appropriate referral.

Each two-hour session follows a predictable structure while giving children room to make choices: Welcome, Hello time (with a familiar hello song that gives every child a moment to be acknowledged), child-led exploration across construction, sensory play, creative activities, books, puzzles and imaginative play, communication opportunities woven naturally into play, social interaction like sharing space and turn-taking, and a calm, predictable goodbye routine. We know some children find unexpected change difficult, so visual information and preparation are built in where helpful.

Because your child doesn't have to fit a label to belong here. LumaNest brings together communication support, child-led play and genuine respite for families in one welcoming community environment. We don't want children spending every moment being assessed, corrected, or asked to "sit nicely" or "use their words" — we want them to have somewhere they can play, communicate, explore, build relationships and simply be themselves. And while they're doing that, we want their parents and carers to have something that's often desperately needed but rarely available: a little breathing space. That's the heart of LumaNest.

Absolutely not. Communication is much more than talking — it includes gestures, facial expressions, pointing, signing, body language, eye gaze, sounds, pictures and symbols, communication devices, choosing, showing, and leading an adult towards something, among many other ways. At LumaNest we value all communication, and we never want a child to feel they have to speak in order to participate, make friends, or be understood.

Your child is welcome. The ability to speak is not a requirement for belonging at LumaNest. We use different communication supports depending on each child's needs, including visual choices, objects, gestures, symbols, signing, and other forms of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) where appropriate. If your child uses a communication aid or AAC device, let us know so we can build it into their sessions — our goal is always to help children express themselves, make choices and participate meaningfully.

Yes, absolutely. Being bilingual or multilingual is never a reason for a child to be excluded from LumaNest. We know many Birmingham families use more than one language at home, and a child's home language is an important part of their identity and family relationships. Where possible, we'll work with families to understand the languages a child uses and what's meaningful to them, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Parents should never feel they need to stop speaking their home language because their child has communication difficulties — and learning more than one language does not cause a speech or language difficulty. We're interested in a child's whole communication profile, not just their English, and we encourage parents to keep communicating in whichever language they're most comfortable using.

Yes. LumaNest is designed to include children with a wide range of communication and developmental needs — including children with delayed speech or language, difficulty understanding language, difficulty expressing themselves, non-verbal children, AAC users, children with social communication differences, autistic children, children with attention and listening difficulties, children who find group environments difficult, children awaiting assessment, and children who simply need a little more support to participate. Every child is different, so we'll always talk with you about your child's individual needs before they attend.

We want every child to participate as fully as possible, and accessibility means more to us than a ramp on a building. We think about communication accessibility (clear language, visual supports, choices, alternative ways of communicating), sensory accessibility (noise, lighting, movement, space, and opportunities to regulate), physical accessibility, cognitive accessibility (breaking activities into manageable steps with predictable routines), and emotional accessibility (an environment where children never feel pressured, rushed or judged). We'll ask about your child's individual needs before attendance so reasonable adjustments can be considered.

That's okay. Some children need time to observe before joining in, or prefer to play alongside others rather than directly with them. We don't expect every child to sit in a group, make eye contact, answer questions, or participate in the same way — our practitioners look for ways to bring the activity to the child, using visual timetables, first/then information, choices, quieter spaces where available, movement breaks, sensory activities, repetition, modelling, and extra processing time as needed.

We understand children can become overwhelmed, frustrated or dysregulated, and our approach is never to punish or shame a child for communicating that they're struggling. We'll consider what your child may be communicating through their behaviour and support them to regulate and feel safe — this might mean reducing demands, changing the activity, offering a choice, providing a quieter space, or giving some room. We'll always discuss your child's known triggers, calming strategies and communication methods with you before they attend.

Our standard group model is built around a small adult-to-child ratio, with speech and language therapy oversight of the communication-focused elements. Some children may need a level of individual support beyond what the group model can safely provide — this is something we'll always discuss with parents before attendance, and we'll never knowingly place a child in a group that can't safely and appropriately meet their needs.

Yes, they're still welcome to enquire. You don't need to wait for a diagnosis or assessment before contacting us — in fact, one of the reasons LumaNest exists is because families can find themselves navigating long waiting periods while still needing somewhere supportive, understanding and enjoyable for their child right now.

LumaNest runs as a weekend club during term time, held at Benson Community Hub in Ladywood, Birmingham. We chose this location with accessibility and community connection in mind. Full venue information, including arrival instructions and accessibility details, is shared with families before their child's first session.

LumaNest is designed to give parents and carers genuine respite, so once registration and consent are complete, you'll generally be able to leave your child with our team. That said, we understand some children need a gradual introduction — if your child is anxious about separating from you, talk to us and we'll discuss how best to support the transition.

Yes. We want you to know what your child enjoyed, how they participated, and what communication approaches seemed to work well for them — for example, "Today, Ahmed really enjoyed the construction activity and independently showed another child the tower he'd built." LumaNest isn't intended to produce clinical reports or formal assessments; this is meaningful feedback without turning a respite session into another assessment.

We'll give you specific information before your child's first session. Depending on their needs, you may be asked about communication methods, allergies or medical needs, sensory preferences, toileting, food or snacks, medication, comfort items, and emergency contacts — anything that helps your child feel safe and settled. If your child uses a communication aid or AAC device, let us know so we can incorporate it.

Please tell us about your child's needs during registration. We'll discuss what support can appropriately be provided at LumaNest and what needs to be in place before attendance — your child's dignity, safety and privacy always come first.

Safeguarding is central to everything we do. We have safeguarding procedures, safer recruitment processes, DBS checks, and appropriate staff training in place, and we collect the information we need from parents beforehand so we understand each child's individual needs and any important safety considerations. Our policies cover safeguarding, data protection, health and safety, and emergency procedures.

We take privacy seriously. Information collected during registration is used only where necessary to provide a safe and appropriate service, and it's handled in line with our data protection and privacy procedures. We'll explain exactly how information is collected, stored and used when you register your child.

LumaNest is supported by trained communication support practitioners alongside speech and language therapy expertise. Staff receive training relevant to their roles, including safeguarding and first aid, and all necessary DBS checks are carried out. Our speech and language therapist provides professional oversight of the communication-focused elements of the service and supports ongoing staff development.

Yes. LumaNest can complement the support your child already receives — we're not trying to replace your child's therapist or duplicate clinical intervention. Instead, we provide opportunities for children to use and develop communication skills naturally through play and everyday experiences. With your consent, we're happy to hear from you what's already helping your child so we can build on it.

Of course. Choosing a service for your child is a big decision, and if you're unsure whether LumaNest is right for your child, please get in touch before registering. You can tell us about your child's communication, their strengths, what they enjoy, and anything you're worried about — you don't need to know exactly what your child needs before you contact us. That's what we're here to help you explore.