Speech Therapist Back to School Newsletter: SLP Communication Guide

The first newsletter of the year sets the tone for the entire year's communication. For a school SLP, the back-to-school newsletter is the introduction that tells families whether they can count on consistent, clear communication from the person responsible for their student's speech and language services. Getting it right at the start makes everything else easier.

Introduce yourself as a person, not just a title

Families who feel they know their student's SLP slightly are more likely to reach out with questions, follow through on home practice, and engage in IEP conversations. A brief personal introduction creates that connection. "My name is [Name] and I am the speech-language pathologist at [School]. I have my Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) and have been working with school-age students for [X] years. What I love most about this work is watching students find their voice and use it to connect with the people around them."

Explain what your services include

Not all families understand the scope of speech-language therapy. Some think it only addresses lisps or stuttering. Explain the range of what you work on: articulation and phonological skills, expressive and receptive language, social communication and pragmatics, fluency, voice, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Not every student will need all of these, but families deserve to know the full scope of what the service covers.

Describe the screening and assessment process

For families new to the school or new to receiving services, the back-to-school newsletter should explain how students get into the SLP caseload. "Students receive speech-language services when their IEP includes speech-language goals, or when a teacher or family refers them for evaluation. I conduct screenings for referred students and will contact families if a full evaluation is recommended. Evaluations require written parental consent." This information prevents families from wondering why their student is or is not receiving services.

Share the session schedule timeline

Be honest about when families can expect a confirmed schedule. "I will finalize individual therapy schedules after completing initial assessments in September. Families whose students are on my caseload will receive a written schedule by September 20." If sessions have already started, share the schedule directly: day of week, session length, and location.

Template: back-to-school SLP newsletter opening

"Welcome to the new school year! My name is [Name] and I am the speech-language pathologist at [School]. I work with students in grades K-5 on goals including speech sound accuracy, language comprehension and expression, social communication, and use of communication devices. If your student receives speech-language services, you will receive their session schedule by September 18. If you have questions about services before then, the best way to reach me is by email at [email] or by leaving a message at the front office. I look forward to partnering with your family this year."

Give families one actionable step right now

End the newsletter with something families can do immediately to support their student's communication. It should be simple and not require any special materials. "One of the best things you can do this week: have a conversation with your student at dinner where you ask open-ended questions and really listen to their full response before responding. Questions like 'What was the hardest part of your day?' or 'Tell me something that surprised you today' build language and conversational skills every time."

Daystage makes it easy to send this back-to-school newsletter professionally and consistently, without it taking more time than the SLP has available at the start of a busy school year.