Our Mission
We are dedicated to helping children and young people develop the speech, language, and communication skills they need to thrive. Through expert assessment, tailored intervention, and collaborative support, we work with education staff, families and professionals to create inclusive environments where every child can understand, express themselves and be confident in their communication.
Our Team
Ann Oaten
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist & Director
Ann qualified in 1984 in Cardiff with a BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy. She has dedicated much of her career to supporting children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs, including those with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and developmental speech and language disorders. Since 1996, Ann has runs her own independent practice alongside Bridge SLT Ltd, working closely with families, schools, and multidisciplinary teams to provide specialist intervention tailored to each child’s needs. Her earlier career included NHS roles across education and healthcare settings, and she previously held a service manager position. Ann is passionate about collaborative working and delivering holistic support that helps children thrive.
Lynne Duckworth
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist & Director
Lynne qualified from De Montfort University, Leicester in 2001 with a BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy. She co-founded Bridge SLT in 2013, following over a decade of NHS experience in Lancashire supporting children and young people aged 18 months to 18 years. Throughout her career she has worked with a broad range of paediatric speech and language difficulties and has particular interest in speech sound disorders, developmental language disorder and stammering. Lynne continues to run her independent practice, Speechworks, alongside her work with Bridge SLT. She is passionate about early intervention and collaborative working to help children reach their full communicative potential.
Fiona Small
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Fiona graduated from the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University) in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy. She worked for the NHS in Hull and the East Riding for 15 years before joining Bridge SLT in 2018. Fiona has experience across a wide range of settings, including mainstream and special schools, nurseries, clinics, and home environments. She enjoys working collaboratively with education staff and other agencies to build confidence and skills in supporting children’s speech, language and communication development, both at a universal level and through direct intervention.
Maria Donkin
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Maria joined Bridge SLT in September 2023, bringing a wealth of experience from her work across clinic, mainstream, and specialist school settings in Hull and the East Riding. She qualified in 2016 with a BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy from Leeds Beckett University and began her career with Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Over the years, Maria’s role evolved to include assessment, goal setting, staff training, and supervision of therapists and student SLTs. She has a particular interest in supporting children with complex communication needs, and her current caseload spans a broad range of speech, language and communication difficulties.
Becky Isherwood
Speech and Language Therapist
Awaiting information
Our Values
We are committed to delivering high-quality, client-led speech and language therapy services that put the needs of children, families, and educational settings at the heart of everything we do. We work from robust assessment and evidence-based practice, ensuring that every recommendation is purposeful and effective. We design our services around the unique needs and priorities of each establishment, offering flexible, responsive support. Our team upholds the highest standards of professionalism, with therapists registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). All therapists participate in regular continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain and enhance their clinical knowledge and skills.