I can find out more to develop my knowledge and skills to support children and young people at risk of speech, language and communication needs

Speech, Language and Communication Framework

This professional development tool outlines the key skills for staff working with children 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

The Integrated Review

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) Progress check at age 2 and the Healthy Child Programme review offer 2 opportunities to:

• identify additional needs for children aged 2 to 3
• work in partnership with parents, carers, guardians and any relevant professionals to put the right support in place for the children who need it

Since 2015, the government has encouraged early years providers, local authorities, and health visiting services to work together to combine the Healthy Child Programme review and the EYFS Progress check at age 2. This is known as an ‘integrated review’.

Cost: Free

NHS Services and support for parents

NHS website with details for how to find a GP, Health Visitor and child health clinics in your area

Early Language Identification Measure and Intervention (ELIM)

This handbook is a guide for practitioners to carry out the Early Language Identification Measure and Intervention programme as part of the 2 to 2½ year review. It is structured as a conversation with the child’s parent/carer, encouraging practitioners to support the parent/carer to make informed decisions for their child.  It outlines the 3 steps of the Early Language Identification Measure and Intervention programme.

The first step (Assessment) concerns a simple measure for identifying which children might have early SLCN as part of their 2 to 2½ year review. Based on the outcomes of this first step, those children where there is no current need can be offered general signposting to support ongoing language development. Where a need is identified they can be offered step 2 and 3 of the identification and intervention programme.

The second step (Conversation) gives guidance on how to discuss and explore the identified needs and observations of the child’s language with the parent/carer. This may then lead to signposting to specific support and consideration of options.

These can be explored fully in the third step (Intervention) which offers a framework for comprehensive engagement with families to work in partnership on agreed goals and interventions tailored to the family.

Cost: Free

EIF Early Years Library - Recognising and Expressing Emotions

The Early Intervention Foundation's Early Years Library contains booklets covering core social and emotional skills and key practices that can be used to support skill development.  The 'Recognising and expressing emotions' booklet provides information about: 

• Learning feeling words
• Identifying feelings using facial expressions and body language
• Describing how we feel
• Recognising other people’s feelings

Click here for the Recognising and expressing emotions booklet 

Access all booklets in the Early Years Library here: https://www.eif.org.uk/resource/early-years-library

Cost: Free

EIF Early Years Library - Communicating with others

The Early Intervention Foundation's Early Years Library contains booklets covering core social and emotional skills and key practices that can be used to support skill development.  The 'Communicating with others' booklet provides information about: 

• Communicating non-verbally
• Engaging in conversation
• Listening
• Greeting others and introducing yourself
• Using polite language

Click here for the Communicating with others booklet 

Access all booklets in the Early Years Library here: https://www.eif.org.uk/resource/early-years-library

Cost: Free

Speech and Language UK Information for Professionals

Speech and Language UK is the children's communication charity which provides training and resources for professionals to develop knowledge, skills and strategies to support children's speech, language and communication skills and needs and links to further information.

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Cost: Free

TCT Building a Profile

This document has been designed to guide you in making a referral to speech and language services.  Being aware of the different types of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) will make it easier for you to describe the child's difficulties accurately, enabling them to access the right support as quickly as possible.

Cost: Free

Child Monitoring Tool

A profiling tool to monitor development of a toddler in relation to Listening and Attention; Understanding; Talking; and Social Skills.  As a practitioner you can highlight statements that the toddler can do through ongoing observations and assessment as well as discussion with parents. The tool includes checkpoint statements which need to be particularly considered as, if a toddler is not achieving these skills at the age indicated, this may indicate a speech, language and communication need that requires ongoing investigation and monitoring.

Cost: Free

Worcestershire Workforce Audit

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 and settings or with individual  children. You will leave the day with lots of practical ideas on how to develop vocabulary in your school or setting.

Cost: £

Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication

This e-learning programme has been developed in partnership with Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare, Public Health England and the Department for Education. Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication outlines the importance of the development of children’s speech and language skills for health visitors working with pre-school children and their families.

Cost: Free

Signalong Training

Signalong provides training and resources to assist those with communication difficulties and English as an additional language.

Signalong is a key word sign-supported communication system based on British sign language and is used in spoken word order. It uses speech, sign, body language, facial expression and voice tone to reference the link between sign and word.

Cost: Free & £

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 toddler's speech, language and communication. Elklan have also developed a range of courses for parents.

Cost: £

WellComm Toolkit

The WellComm Assessment is for use with any child aged 6 months to 6 years and enables practitioners to evaluate children's language skills, draw up a detailed profile and identify children at risk of having difficulty in developing language skills.  It identifies those children who need setting-based monitoring and support and those who need referral to specialist support services.  The screen is completed through observation, discussion with families and screening by asking children to carry out a variety of tasks ensuring that results obtained and conclusions drawn are more accurate than using one approach alone.

The WellComm Big Book of Ideas has been designed for use following a WellComm assessment of any child aged 6 months to 6 years.  It includes general strategies as well as very specific activities to develop and improve children's speech and language skills and can be implemented by any early years practitioner or parent using toys and items that can be found in settings or at home.  The activities are used to develop the particular skills highlighted for support in the assessment - this means that the activities delivered are specific and appropriate to the individual child language development stage and can be used in the setting or at home.

Training videos are included in the toolkit.  

The Hanen Centre

The Hanen Centre offers evidence-based interventions and professional development opportunities to early childhood education professionals. Their training programmes and interventions provide practical, naturalistic approaches for promoting the social, language and early literacy skills of preschool children.

Cost: £

NLT Tips for talking leaflets

The National Literacy Trust provides a wide range of parent-friendly downloadable leaflets outlining tips for talking, why talking to your toddler matters and the benefits for their development. The ideas include information for talking in daily routines such as during nappy changing, information for dads and activities to support communication when out and about. 

Cost: Free

EYBIC Word Pack

Early Years Based Information Carrying Word Pack is a rich resource of beautiful pictures and interesting activities to help you assess and promote the vocabulary, speaking and listening of toddlers you work with through the principle of Information Carrying Words.  The Information Carrying Words concept provides a structured framework which helps children increase the amount of information they can remember. At the same time EYBIC will develop their knowledge and language of everyday topics.

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.

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Cost: Free

Developing Joint Attention

Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to help develop your child's joint attention - this means being able to focus on the same thing as you at the same time. How to help your child developing joint attention through play is broken down to help you easily understand what to do step by step.

Cost: Free

Now and Next Boards

Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to use a 'now and next' or 'first and then' board to help your child understand what is going to happen next and to encourage them to do what you want them to do.  It explains how using pictures can help if children are having difficulties with language.

Cost: Free

Using Objects and Sensory Cueing

Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to use objects and sensory cueing to link words, objects and routines. This helps children prepare for and anticipate what is going to happen next; supports language development; supports them to become engaged in a variety of daily routines.

Cost: Free

Creating Opportunities to Communicate

Birmingham Community Healthcare Speech and Language Therapists have produced this video to show you how to make small changes throughout the day to increase a child's opportunities to communicate and have a reason to communicate.

Cost: Free

EIF Early Years Library - Language and Listening

The Early Intervention Foundation's Early Years Library contains booklets covering core language and early literacy skills and key practices that can be used to support skill development.  The Language and listening booklet provides information about: 

• Learning new words
• Using new words in context
• Listening and responding
• Remembering stories
• Answering questions about a story

Click here for the Language and Listening booklet

Access all booklets in the Early Years Library here: https://www.eif.org.uk/resource/early-years-library

Cost: Free

Communication Friendly Spaces Approach

The Communication Friendly Spaces Approach focuses on the role of the environment in supporting speaking and listening skills, emotional well-being, physical development and general engagement.  The approach promotes learning environments that reflect the aspirations of individual organisations; regularly change according to the needs of the children using them; inform how learning happens; and reflect who and what is valued.  It uses an evidence and inquiry-based learning approach to help children develop emotional security and skills across many areas. 

Cost: £

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. 

Cost: £9/month upwards

Every Child a Talker

The materials are designed to support you to develop high quality language provision in your setting. The guidance helps you to create developmentally appropriate, supportive and stimulating environments in which young children can enjoy experimenting with and learning language. It can be implemented in Early Years settings, including childminders.

Cost: Free

BBC Something Special

Something Special uses songs, rhymes and visual humour with Makaton sign language to help practitioners and parents learn how to support communication with signing in a fun and exciting way.  

Cost: Free

Makaton training

Information about a variety of Makaton training options including online; face to face and inhouse workshops.  This page also provides information about the different levels of training that Makaton offer.

Cost: £

Speech and Language UK Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn

This series of videos for practitioners helps you to understand your role in supporting speech, language and communication development.  The videos cover: the importance of communication; early years observations; how children learn to talk and activities that help. It includes built in exercises to support and reinforce your learning.

Cost: Free