Chatterbug Ltd

What Chatterbug Ltd does

Chatterbug Ltd (legally ChatterBug Limited) is a UK-based social enterprise headquartered in Leeds that delivers paediatric speech and language therapy services to children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Founded in 2008, the company operates three regional offices across Yorkshire (Leeds), the North West (Halton), and the Midlands (Leicester), with a clinical team of approximately 25+ Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and 8+ Communication and Language Specialists (CALs), supported by clinical management, software engineers, and administrative staff. Its core clinical offerings include telehealth video-call therapy sessions, onsite school services commissioned directly by educational settings with bespoke KPIs, private family assessments and therapy, and medico-legal reports. The company complements clinical delivery with the Chatterbug Academy, an on-demand e-learning platform offering 20+ accredited courses on conditions such as autism, Developmental Language Disorder, stammering, selective mutism, and Colourful Semantics, alongside bundled packages (Essential and Specialist at £129.99) and school/organisation licences for up to 25 users. The company also operates an Autism Assessment Panel for multidisciplinary diagnostics and is establishing a Speech and Language Therapy Apprenticeship programme.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model: commissioned school services and NHS-adjacent clinical work (subscription-style recurring relationships with educational settings), professional services fees from private family assessments and medico-legal reports, and subscription-based training revenue from Chatterbug Academy (individual course fees of £9.99–£84.99 with 3-month access, bundle pricing, and enterprise licences). Distribution relies on direct sales to schools and trusts, a self-serve e-commerce storefront for training, SEO/content marketing, and referral networks. Chatterbug maintains regulatory credentials including HCPC registration, RCSLT membership, I CAN accreditation for Early Talk Boost and KS1 Talk Boost programmes, Cyber Essentials certification, and BUPA approved-provider status. The company is founder-led (CEO Asma Khanum, COO Yasir Khan) with no disclosed external funding, operates as a going concern, and has reported delivery of over 8,525 therapy sessions since lockdown with 97.38% five-star satisfaction.

Name

Chatterbug Ltd

Legal name

ChatterBug Limited

Website

https://chatter-bug.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chatterbug Ltd is a UK-based social enterprise that delivers paediatric speech and language therapy services, both in-person and via telehealth, to children with SLCN across schools, families, and medico-legal clients, supplemented by the Chatterbug Academy online training platform for education professionals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

School-Based Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Services (EDAKAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

SLP Consultation, Teacher/Parent Coaching & Home Program Support (EDAKAEAN), Speech Sound Disorders (Articulation/Phonology) Intervention (EDAKAEAD), Fluency (Stuttering/Cluttering) Services (School-Age) (EDAKAEAG), Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language) (EDAKAKAG)

Keywords

• Speech and language therapy
• Paediatric communication services
• SLCN interventions
• Online therapy training
• School speech services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. School Services: Speech and language therapy services commissioned directly by schools, nurseries, academies, and trusts. Delivers bespoke plans with clear KPIs for universal, targeted, and specialist needs.
2. Private Client Services: Private assessments and therapy for children and families, both in-person and online. Provides tailored, evidence-based support without lengthy wait times.
3. Online Training Courses (Chatterbug Academy): On-demand and live training courses on SLCN topics sold to education professionals, parents, and caregivers via subscription model (3-month access periods).
4. Medico-Legal Assessments and Reports: Professional assessments and reports for legal and medical purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Chatterbug delivers speech and language therapy assessments, diagnosis and treatment for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) across the UK. Services are offered in-person at clinics, onsite within schools, and via telehealth video sessions, supported by the Chatterbug Academy online training platform selling on-demand SLCN courses to education professionals and parents.

Product overview

Chatterbug Ltd operates as a social enterprise delivering speech, language and communication services across the UK through a multi-channel model comprising clinical therapy services and an online training platform (Chatterbug Academy). The core clinical offerings include Telehealth Speech and Language Therapy Sessions (video-based assessments and treatment), School Services (onsite therapy in educational settings), Private Clients (direct family therapy), and Medico-Legal Assessments. The Chatterbug Academy is an on-demand e-learning platform offering over 20 individual courses and bundled packages for professionals and parents on SLCN topics including Colourful Semantics, Bucket Therapy, Selective Mutism, Stammering, Autism Support, Gestalt Language Processing, Communication Boards, Lego Therapy, DLD, Vocabulary Approach, and Coaching in Speech Therapy. Additional services include an Autism Assessment Panel and combined speech/music therapy (Chat n Bop). The company serves both direct client/family markets and institutional markets (schools, NHS, healthcare).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chatterbug Academy: On-demand training hub offering online courses for education professionals, parents, and caregivers on Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) topics including Colourful Semantics, Stammering, Selective Mutism, Autism Support, and Developmental Language Disorder.

Products and services

• Telehealth Speech and Language Therapy Sessions Online video-based speech and language therapy sessions providing assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of communication difficulties including speech sound disorders, stammering, language delays, and autism-related communication needs. Targeted at families and schools seeking remote access to qualified SLTs.
• School Services Onsite speech and language therapy services delivered directly in schools, nurseries, and academies with bespoke plans setting out KPIs to meet settings' objectives around SLCN. Covers universal, targeted, and specialist intervention tiers, EHCP assessments, staff modelling, and training. Targeted at educational institutions.
• Private Client Therapy Private speech and language therapy assessments and therapy for families, offering tailored, targeted programmes without lengthy NHS wait times. Delivered in-person at the Leeds clinic and online. Targeted at parents and carers of children with SLCN.
• Medico-Legal Assessments and Reports Professional medico-legal assessments and reports for legal proceedings related to speech, language and communication needs. Targeted at legal professionals requiring expert SLCN evidence.
• Autism Assessment Panel Specialist autism assessment panel delivered by a team of multiple healthcare professionals following NICE guidelines, providing diagnosis and follow-up treatment options. Targeted at families seeking specialist autism diagnostic services.
• Chat n Bop Combined speech and music therapy sessions running in 6-week blocks, open to children of a range of abilities. Targeted at families seeking integrated speech and music therapy experiences.
• Chatterbug Academy On-demand training hub offering online courses for professionals and parents on speech, language and communication needs. Includes modules, quizzes, and certificates of attendance. Targeted at education professionals, SENCOs, and parents/caregivers.
• Colourful Semantics Course Language intervention training teaching children to understand and construct sentences using a colour-coding system to foster vocabulary expansion and narrative skills. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access with certificate.
• Basics of Bucket Therapy Course Training on enhancing early attention skills in children through Bucket Therapy approach, helping develop and maintain focus. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Selective Mutism Course Training on recognising signs of Selective Mutism, implementing supportive environments, and seeking professional intervention. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Overview of Stammering Course Comprehensive training covering characteristics, types, developmental aspects of stammering, and practical strategies to support individuals who stammer. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Supporting Complex Communication Needs Course Comprehensive course covering 8 specialist modules including Intensive Interactions, Expanding Communication, Objects of Reference, Emotional Regulation, Visuals for Communication, Aided Language, and Communication Opportunities. Priced at £84.99 for 3-month access.
• Supporting Emotional Regulation Course Training on implementing Zones of Regulation programme to teach self-regulation skills to children with emotional regulation difficulties. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• SLCN in Secondary Course Training on speech and language communication needs in secondary school populations, including impact on learning, wellbeing, and future employment. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Course Training on supporting children whose first language is not English, covering language acquisition strategies and communication best practices. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) Course Training on understanding and supporting gestalt language processors, covering stages of processing and strategies for transitioning from echolalia to spontaneous language. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Autism Support for Parents Course Parent-focused training on autism covering communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation, AAC, echolalia, gestalt language processing, and self-advocacy. Priced at £24.99 for 3-month access.
• Introduction to Coaching in Speech Therapy Course Training on coaching principles within speech therapy, covering active listening, questioning techniques, goal setting, and solution-focused approaches for SLCN. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Communication Boards Course Training on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), specifically communication boards for non-verbal or minimally verbal individuals. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Introduction to Lego Therapy Course Training on Lego-based therapy for building and boosting communication in children and young people. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Course Training on Developmental Language Disorder covering definition, key characteristics, signs across age ranges, and classroom support strategies. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Vocabulary Approach Course Structured vocabulary instruction training for educators to enhance vocabulary teaching for all children including those with SLCN. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• Everyday Communication Strategies Course Training for families and practitioners on using everyday routines as opportunities for building communication skills through modelling, recasting, naming, commenting, and expanding techniques. Priced at £9.99 for 3-month access.
• Identifying and Supporting Children with SLCN Course Training to increase understanding of speech, language, and communication development and how to identify and support children with SLCN. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• A Parent's Guide: Supporting My Child with SLCN Parent-focused course on understanding SLCN and strategies to create communication opportunities and offer support at home. Priced at £49.99 for 3-month access.
• School and Organisations Training Package Tailored training package for schools and organisations with up to 25 user licences, progress tracking, and quiz performance monitoring for collective team growth. Contact for pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97.38% satisfaction rate (5/5 rating) from telehealth sessions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• I CAN (Children's Communication Charity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChatterbug is accredited to deliver I CAN's Early Talk Boost and KS1 Talk Boost training programmes, which are evidence-based interventions developed by I CAN to support children's communication development.
• HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body ensuring all Chatterbug Speech and Language Therapists meet professional standards for registration.
• RCSLT (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK professional body for speech and language therapists. Chatterbug therapists maintain professional membership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Speech and Language UK (formerly I CAN): The UK's leading charity for children with speech and language difficulties, sharing Chatterbug's mission, target population (UK children with SLCN), and overlap with the Early Talk Boost / KS1 Talk Boost training programmes Chatterbug is accredited to deliver.
• Elklan: UK specialist in training education professionals in speech, language and communication, offering courses and accreditation for SENCOs and TAs. Direct comparable to Chatterbug Academy's SLCN training catalogue and professional-development distribution model.
• Therapy Focus: UK independent charity providing speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and SEND support to children and families. Comparable to Chatterbug's school-commissioned and private paediatric SLP services across the UK.
• Mable Therapy: UK-based speech and language therapy provider delivering 1:1 and group therapy for children in schools, homes and via telehealth, closely mirroring Chatterbug's school-commissioned + private + online delivery stack.
• London Speech Therapy: Independent London-based paediatric SLP clinic offering assessments, therapy and reports for families and schools. Comparable private-pay and school-channel SLP services, though geographically focused on London/South East.

Broad incumbents

• Aspris Children's Services: Large UK SEND and social-care provider operating residential, education and therapy services for children including SLP. Wider portfolio than Chatterbug, but overlaps on commissioned SLP services delivered into schools and local authorities.
• NHS England Speech and Language Therapy Services: State-provided SLP services serving as the default referral pathway and primary alternative to Chatterbug's private and school-commissioned therapy. Sets pricing benchmarks, capacity constraints, and the long wait times Chatterbug explicitly competes against.
• Cambium Learning Group: US-listed education services group owning brands such as Learning A-Z and Voyager Sopris, providing assessments, intervention and professional learning including SLCN-adjacent literacy and language products. Broader international scope than Chatterbug but competes for SEND/EdTech budgets.

Emerging players

• Lingokids: EdTech language-learning platform for kids with a consumer subscription model. Adjacent to the Chatterbug Academy in theme (parent-paid child language learning) but focused on general English literacy rather than clinical SLCN therapy.
• Smartbox Assistive Technology: UK-based AAC technology provider (Grid/Pod), overlapping with Chatterbug's AAC services and training on communication boards. Different primary modality (hardware/software) but serves the same paediatric complex-communication market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChatterbugSLT
• Facebookfacebook.com/ChatterBugSLT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chatterbugslt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chatterbug Ltd