Communication and Language Initiatives

• Speech and Language UK's Early Years Commitment is a simple and free way to develop a whole setting or team approach to communication that is tailored to the needs of your early years provision, whether that is a nursery, pre-school, Family Centre or childminding setting.
• ECaT Every Child a Talker was a national project to develop the language and communication of children from birth to five years of age. The project was set up after concern about the high levels of ‘language impoverishment’ in the UK, and how this affects children’s progress in school and chances in life. Instalment 1 Instalment 2 Instalment 3
• What Works is a moderated online library of evidenced interventions that aim to support children's speech, language and communication. What Works helps early years practitioners, teachers, school leaders, and speech and language therapists (SLTs) find the most appropriate interventions for children and young people by providing a free and easily accessible overview of the evidence base for each intervention.
• Elklan are national leaders in training education practitioners, other professionals and parents, to help children and young people develop the skills they need to succeed in life. They also offer some free resources.
• Schools in Buckinghamshire have free access to Speech Link and Language Link. Other school based programmes include WellComm and Voice 21.

Communication and Language Audits

The following audits may assist you in evaluating your provision:

• Communication and Language Audit - Pre-reception
• Communication and Language Audit  Reception
• Environmental Rating Scales Institute - ECERS-3 and SSTEW
• I CAN’s Communication Supporting Classroom Observation Tool
• National Strategies Communication, Language and Literacy Development
• Teacher Rating of Oral Language and Literacy (TROLL)
• The Hanen Centre - Children’s conversational styles