Speech, language and communication development in the early years

Information for practitioners

This toolkit is designed for practitioners and other professionals, working with children in the early years.  It will help you support children’s development of communication skills, along with providing advice if you are concerned about a child’s speech and language.

In this practitioners’ toolkit, you’ll find…

1)  General information about speech and language development

2)  Typical language development

3)  Assessing children’s language development

4)  Resources and activities to support children’s language development

5)  Intervention and monitoring for children with speech, language and communication needs

6)  Diagnosed conditions which can affect children’s speech, language and communication

7)  Support for your setting

8)  Who else may be working with children with speech, language and communication needs?

9) Bilingualism and English as an additional language

Don’t forget…Look out for the good practice and great idea sections on every page.  Alternatively, you can download them altogether, in a handy good practice and great ideas factsheet.

You may also find the information pages within the parents’ toolkit* useful…

1)  General information about speech, language and communication

2)  What you can do to support your child

3)  Activities and ideas to support your child’s language development

4)  What’s available in Herefordshire

5)  What to do if you are worried about your child’s speech, language and communication

6)  My child has a diagnosis.  What does this mean for their speech, language and communication?

             •  Developmental Language Disorder
             •  Stammering
             •  Selective mutism
             •  Autism
             •  Hearing impairments
             •  Glue ear
             •  Down’s syndrome

7)  Information for parents who speak English as an additional language

8)  Top tips factsheet to help your child develop their speech and language at home


*  Please note:  When we refer to parents, it also includes carers, family members and partners, of any gender, who help support a child’s development.