Communication and Language Development

Early Years child development training

The government have set up online training which provides support and guidance for the early years sector.  Get free online training from the DfE.

Module 4 is all about supporting language development in young children and there will be further modules released in the near future.

Also available is the Help for Early Years Providers pages. There is a section on communication and language with videos and ideas to support play and development.

Key websites

• The Communication Trust National organisation with a wealth of information and guidance
• Every Child a Talker guidance for early language lead practitioners, which, although archived, includes a very useful audit of provision for communication and language
• The Hanen Centre Leading international organisation with expert ideas to support communication
• Speech and Language UK National communication charity with articles, resources and ideas
• Talk for Meaning Resources and lively ideas by independent expert consultant Michael Jones
• Ethnic Minority Achievement Service Brighton and Hove service, authors of Understanding the steps of learning for children with EAL in the Early Years. See also the National Strategy EYFS guidance for children with EAL
• Letters and Sounds

Recommended early phonics programme

• Bookstart National organization with advice for practitioners and families
• Lawrence Educational Publications Includes an excellent range of resources such as Helping Young Children to Listen

A useful collection of FREE articles about communication and language from Nursery World is available via the LuCiD website. These include All About Contingent Talk, My Mistake and Word for Word.

• Better Health Start for Life – is a three-year campaign from the DfE to encourage parents to engage in activities that support their child’s early learning and help set them up for school and beyond. Download the Campaign toolkit

One-off articles

Listening and attention

• a fantastic FREE listening resource from the BBC is available, featuring a comprehensive library of sounds and nursery rhymes
• a summary of tips for being a communication friendly setting from Early Years Careers.
• a reflective article by Joan Almon about oral language and the role of traditional rhymes and stories is available from the Community Playthings website.
• see this great new Book Nook page from Hanen, Building Early Vocabulary with From Head to Toe by Eric Carle.

Speaking

• an excellent, practical article to support practitioners in developing children’s language and vocabulary, especially disadvantaged children, published by Community Playthings.
• a step by step guide to developing children’s vocabulary by the Hanen Centre
• an article about the powerful links between turn-taking and early communication by the Hanen Centre
• Talk to your Baby blog
• The Hanen Centre has a dedicated YouTube channel with clear examples of effective adult-child interactions
• ‘Helicopter stories’ are a powerful way to developing children’s language, communication, interaction and self-esteem
• narratives, talk and storytelling with small world play – a resources audit to support seasonal and other provision
• developing vocabulary during food-based activities
• a summary of research on the role of eye contact in early language development:
• inspiring provocations for traditional storytelling in winter and throughout the year