Erantia Coertze
Team Lead | MAT LEAVE
HCPC Reg: SL038520
Hello, my name is Erantia.
I studied at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, completing my undergraduate degree in 2016 and my Master’s degree in 2017. During my Master’s, I worked as a tutor and clinical supervisor for students at the University of Pretoria, which sparked my passion for supporting and developing other therapists.
In 2018, I worked at a hospital in the North West province of South Africa before moving back to Johannesburg in 2019, where I joined a paediatric private practice supporting children with a wide range of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). In January 2020, I took the exciting step of establishing my own private practice, which I successfully ran until joining the Words First team in September 2021.
My particular areas of interest include social communication, Autism and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). I love seeing children achieve their goals, no matter how big or small, and believe every achievement is something worth celebrating.
I currently work full-time in primary schools across London as a Team Lead and Speech and Language Therapist. Alongside my clinical work, I have the privilege of supporting other therapists in their professional development and helping them grow in confidence throughout their careers.
I strongly believe that collaboration between parents, families, teachers and other professionals is essential to providing effective and holistic support. I also believe that successful therapy requires flexibility and a willingness to adapt our approach to meet the individual needs of each child. I am passionate about continuing to learn, develop my knowledge and improve my practice.
The Words First value that resonates most with me is Respect. I believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of their background, history, beliefs, religion, gender or race. Creating an environment where everyone feels valued and heard is fundamental to building positive relationships and providing meaningful support.
Outside of work, I love spending time with friends and family, travelling and experiencing new foods. If you asked my best friend to describe me, I think she’d say I’m fun, kind and caring.
