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Speech and language impairment can have a huge impact on cognitive development, yet identifying what is going wrong, and what effective intervention looks like, can be daunting. This thorough guide will give you everything you need to change that, short of retraining you as a speech and language therapist!
An essential resource, Supporting the Development of Speech, Language and Communication in the Early Years contains a wide variety of online resources, including phonological and sound awareness documents, assessment tools, and recording forms, that can be downloaded straight to your device, providing excellent activities and resources for your classroom.
Written by speech and language therapists and designed exclusively for Early Years practitioners, it provides a complete overview of how children acquire language and what language impairments look like at this age, offering strategic advice on how to effectively manage and encourage the development of speech and language skills. It will also help you recognise the features of specific language difficulties such as Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and the communication difficulties associated with other conditions such as autism.
"The book is brimming with practical ideas and tips steeped in theory and expertise. It is a book to dip into time and time again to enhance universal, targeted and specialist practice in early years provision. A professional book for practitioners and students of child development, inclusion workers and those working to develop integrated services for children. "
- Rebecca Fisk, Early Years SEND Service Manager and Early Intervention Foundation Associate
"During my 25-year career in early years I have never come across a more useful tool for early years practitioners. This book and the resources in it are a breath of fresh air for a novice who is developing an understanding of how speech and language develops in young children and beyond. The book also supports knowledgeable practitioners and leaders to embed good practice in their settings. The learning points and toolbox is a valuable addition. I wish this book had been available years ago."
- Kerry Whitehouse, BA in Childhood and Family Studies
"Following the Covid-19 pandemic more children than ever are needing additional support with their speech, language and communication at a time when services and support are stretched more than ever. With this in mind, this book and accompanying resources could not be more welcomed. Reading this book is a bit like having a chat with a really lovely Speech and Language Therapist. The style feels incredibly supportive and it is packed full of useful, practical advice and tips that will make a huge difference to children. The chapter 'Think like a therapist' will be so beneficial to help educators recognise their own skills and knowledge and how they can support children in the here and now while waiting for specialist support. Too often as educators, we doubt our own skills and attributes when we've identified children who need additional support. This book not only helps educators to develop their skills further but positions them as experts in their own right; those with incredibly useful knowledge about the child that can be used to provide early intervention. One of the key themes of the book is the importance of universal support that will benefit all children, so this resource does not just become useful for supporting children who have difficulties with speech, language and communication, but supporting every child. Reflective practice is such an important element of early years practice and the resources included will help all educators to think about what elements of their provision, interactions and environments can be developed further. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book and I think it has the potential to make a significant difference to how children in early years education are supported."
- Jenny Shaw, (MA in Early Childhood Education) Lead Academic and Research Developer (Busy Bees)
"As an experienced teacher it is great to see the book and its resources available to support practitioners. I only wish this book was available when I first started working with children who are developing language as the book clearly explains the development of speech and language as well as providing resources to support those children who need intervention to enhance and support their development. This book is a great tool for all teachers, not just those teaching in the Early Years, as it will equip them to support children with delayed development."
- Julie Jones, Deputy Headteacher
