Part-time Freelance Role Leading Speech Development For A Child with a Private Family in Hove
We are looking for a warm, creative, and dedicated individual for a unique part-time role. This position is solely focused on a child aged 3.5 years.
This is not a babysitting or general role. You will be a vital member of a wider professional team (including therapists, a tennis coach, and nursery staff) all working together.
The primary, non-negotiable goal of this role is to improve the child's spoken language. We are looking for someone to use their brilliant, creative and dramatic skills to get him talking more often, using more words, forming two and three word phrases, and speaking with greater clarity. While benefits to his confidence and social skills are welcome, every activity must be designed with the core purpose of encouraging his speech.
Role Purpose
Your job is to:
- Use playful, drama-based, and high-energy interaction to grow his spoken language specifically the number of words he uses, the length of his phrases, his speech clarity, and his enjoyment of speaking out loud.
- Turn everyday activities, toys, and games into imaginative "scenes" and stories that create exciting and natural opportunities for him to say words and phrases, not just gesture or communicate non-verbally.
- Build a bank of structured, fun, speech-focused activities that his other adults and team (parents, tennis coach, OT, nursery staff) can use to continue the work.
About the child
He is a bright and engaging 4-year-old boy.
Has good problem solving and spatial skills, loves 40 piece puzzles for example, building complex ball runs, categorising objects, and working things out.
- He has good receptive language, understanding what is said to him in two languages.
- He loves stickers, pretend games, and is happy being physically active.
His main challenge is a clear expressive language delay. He has a rare medical condition and previously spent a lot of time in hospital.
About You: The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a loads of creativity and warmth. The ideal person is:
- Drama-Orientated: You have a background in performance. You could be a drama teacher, speech and drama tutor, an actor with experience in children's theatre, a children’s entertainer, or an early years educator with a strong performing arts side. You have excellent spoken communication and storytelling skills. You are happy to be silly, animated, and fun, but are also emotionally attuned and gentle, using your performance skills specifically to draw out spoken words and phrases from him.
- Child Development Aware (with a focus on Speech): You understand early spoken language development, play-based learning, and how to scaffold speech without pressure. You are excited to take guidance from a specialist speech therapist and parents and then creatively turn that clinical advice into specific, fun-filled speaking exercises and games.
- Organised and Collaborative: You can plan short, speech-focused "sessions" or themes for your time with him. Crucially, you can write simple one-page handovers or activity plans for other adults on his team (e.g., "This week, we're targeting the words 'go there', 'stop', 'my turn' here are three fun ways to play with this"). You can notice what works to get him speaking and feed that back clearly.
Key Responsibilities
This role is 6-7 hours per week, split into blocks (e.g., two 2-3 hour days with the family and 1-2 hours working from home communicating with the family and team)
1. Direct Work with the child (approx. 3-4 hours per week)
- Lead highly engaging, drama focused play sessions two times per week, with a constant, sharp focus on encouraging him to speak.
- Use role play, character voices, simple scripts, movement games, and songs to encourage him to say sounds, single words, and then short phrases out loud.
- Build in his interests (puzzles, stickers, building) and gross motor work (safe obstacle courses, ball games) as scenarios for pretend play, all designed to create natural opportunities for him to speak.
- Use repetition, predictable routines, and fun catchphrases so he is tempted to copy and join in verbally.
- Gently stretch his spoken language output
Person Specification
Essential:
- A strong background in drama, performance, or speech and drama with children, OR a qualified early years educator with a clear and demonstrable drama focus.
- Excellent spoken English, clear diction, and a genuine interest in how children learn to speak.
- Proven experience working with young children (3-5 years) in a structured role (e.g., teaching, tutoring, leading drama clubs, specialist nannying).
- A warm, playful, and energetic presence, able to hold a child’s attention and create an "invitation to speak."
- Patient
- Organised, with the ability to do light planning and provide basic written handovers, especially about what gets him talking.
Practical Details
- Location: Family home in Hove, UK (BN3).
- Typical Working Pattern: 3-4 hours per week across two days to fit around nursary times, Monday to Friday. Days are flexible each week
How to Apply
Please send a CV and a brief cover letter
Job Types: Part-time, Freelance
Pay: £26.00-£28.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
