General guidance and strategies to develop speech, language and communication

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The resources here will help you reach the outcome: "I know what to do and have the resources to support all teenagers' speech, language and communication."

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Balanced System for Schools and Settings

The Balanced System Scheme for Schools and Settings is a whole system approach to improving outcomes for children across the range of speech, language and communication needs for any setting that supports children. The framework enables a setting to understand existing need and provision for speech, language and communication and develop provision to address the gaps. The framework supports a setting to demonstrate impact of the support for speech, language and communication.

Cost: £

Balanced System for Schools and Settings
Family SupportEnvironmentWorkforceIdentificationIntervention
Family SupportEnvironmentWorkforceIdentificationIntervention

Language for Learning

Language for Learning provides training and resources to support everyone working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

Developed in 2000 by a specialist teacher and a speech and language therapist, Language for Learning is a Worcestershire joint health and education non-profit making project managed by the NHS service.

Language for Learning provides training to the wider workforce in early years settings and schools, equipping practitioners to support children and young people effectively.  A wide range of training courses are available from half day courses to three day intensive courses.  Language for Learning also has a resource catalogue full of practical resources and ideas to support children in their setting.  

Visit the website to find out more 

Cost: Training commissioned by schools and settings

Language for Learning
EnvironmentWorkforceIdentificationIntervention
EnvironmentWorkforceIdentificationIntervention

Afasic

Afasic supports parents and carers with young children who have difficulties with listening, talking and understanding others. Here is information for you use and to share with families of the children you support. It includes a wide range of information about talking, listening and understanding and what might cause these difficulties.  If families are worried that their young child is not talking or not saying as much as other children of their age, they can contact Afasic by telephone or email to speak to someone who can help. 

Cost: Free

Afasic
Family SupportIdentificationIntervention
Family SupportIdentificationIntervention

Universally Speaking 11-18

Universally Speaking is a series of booklets for anyone who works with children and young people. The booklets show where children and young people should be with their communication skills at any given age.  You can use the booklets to find out whether the children and young people you work with are on the right track, what helps them learn to talk and listen and what to do if you have concerns about any of their communication abilities.

Cost: Free

Universally Speaking 11-18
Family SupportIdentificationIntervention
Family SupportIdentificationIntervention

What Works database

The Communication Trust worked with the Better Communication Research Programme to develop the What Works database of evidenced interventions to support children's speech, language and communication. What Works is endorsed by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.  It supports practitioners to deliver evidence-informed interventions and approaches to support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs.

What Works database
WorkforceIntervention
WorkforceIntervention

BCTC Toolkit - Effective Communication

Blackpool Classrooms That Communicate is a curated collection of resources and advice that puts speech, language & communication at the heart of helping staff to help the children and young people they work with.  This includes a wide range of information and strategies for supporting understanding, talking and communication.  

Cost: Free

BCTC Toolkit - Effective Communication
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Intervention

Lift Lessons 6-14

Digital resources with a focus on teaching keywords in science to empower students aged 6 to 14 with their academic language.

Lift Lessons 6-14
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Intervention

Word Aware

Word Aware is a structured whole school approach to promote the vocabulary development of all children. The resource is of particular value for those who start at a disadvantage – including children with Developmental Language Disorder, Special Educational Needs and those who speak English as an additional language, but it will extend the word learning of all students.  It includes activities that can be used in 1-1 or small groups for children who are finding word learning particularly difficult. 

Cost: £

Word Aware
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Intervention

Language for Learning resources

Language for Learning aims to offer really practical strategies to support children in their early years or mainstream setting. They aim to share resources that they use and promote on our training courses, including national initiatives such as the Communication Commitment.

Language for Learning resources
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Intervention
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