How to make sure I can provide good advice and information about speech, language and communication.

Language for Learning training

Language for Learning provides training and resources to support all those working with children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. They provide training to the wider workforce in early years settings and schools, equipping practitioners to support children and young people effectively. There is a training for trainers programme where they train speech and language therapists and specialist teachers to deliver Language for Learning training courses in their local area.

Speech, Language and Communication Framework

This professional development tool outlines the key skills for staff working with children and young people to support and develop speech, language and communication skills. It consists of 2 elements, a self-assessment tool and Universal level learning modules.  The self-assessment tool enables practitioners to map their confidence, knowledge and skills in supporting speech, language and communication and identify areas for development.  The learning modules provide opportunity for practitioners to develop their knowledge in supporting speech, language and communication.   A group function is also available to enable audit of a cohort of practitioners to inform training plans.

Cost: Free

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: £

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

Worcestershire Workforce Audit

Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Self-Evaluation Audit for practitioners in settings and schools.

Cost: Free

Word Aware training

Word Aware is a fast-paced, fun and interactive workshop style day, which will leave you well equipped to start Word Aware in your schools or with individual  children. You will leave the day with lots of practical ideas on how to develop vocabulary in your school.

Cost: £

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.

Elklan training

Elklan courses are delivered by licensed tutors across the UK.  The evidence-informed courses are aimed at practitioners to support their knowledge about how to support children and young people's speech, language and communication. Elklan have also developed a range of courses for parents.

Cost: £

Speech and Language UK Online Short Course: An introduction to speech, language and communication

This online short course is free and a great place to start learning about children and young people’s speech, language and communication development. It looks at how you can support the development of these skills on a day-to-day basis in your setting, and how to spot children and young people who might be struggling to develop these important skills.

The course is tailored for the needs of practitioners working across all the different education phases. You have the option to access four different pathways – early years, primary, secondary or further education so you can choose which pathway is most relevant to your area of work.

Cost: Free

Signs and Symbols

Widgit provides symbols that can be used to support communication making information, documents and resources to be more accessible and inclusive.  The symbols can be used for a variety of purposes such as creating communication books to share information; visual timetables to support understanding of structure and routine; task boards to support independent learning; pictures to develop vocabulary and to support children learning English as an additional language.

This website has information to support your understanding of how to use symbols including training resources, events and links to a network of organisations around the UK who offer advice and support.

There is also information for parents and carers to help them understand how they can use symbols to support their child or young person at home.

Cost: £

Secondary Language Link

Secondary Language Link is a comprehensive SLCN support package.  This assessment, targeted interventions and teacher training package enables secondary schools to identify and support the language and communication needs of Key Stage 3 students aged 11-14

Cost: £