Early Years Communication and Language: A practitioner’s guide to providing children with the best start for communication and language

Free to access for Derbyshire practitioners, please register for this programme which will initially be available from 1st September 2021. The programme will be repeated in Spring 2022 and Summer 2022.

This self-guided learning opportunity has been developed by members of the Derbyshire Early Years Service.

Welcome to our practitioner’s guide to providing EY children with the best start for communication and language.

A portion of children are arriving in your EYFS provision with underdeveloped communication and language skills or specific needs. The government continues to recognise this issue and has increased the emphasis within the EYFS reforms on supporting children develop these essential life skills. Whether you are new to the profession or more experienced and wanting a refresher, this resource will guide you through key features and strategies to enhance, enrich or support communication and language at universal level.

It embeds the ethos of EYFS practice and the universal ECaT messages into one resource. Working through this CPD will help you understand the recommendations for all children including those with SEND in relation to a graduated response and creating a strong foundation for consistent practice.

Format

The package consists of videos, activities, reflections, action points and study notes/resource pack which will take you approx. 3 hours to complete the learning sequence over a period of 6-12 weeks.

All videos will be released once the programme starts on 1st September 2021, and will be available until the 23rd December 2021.

Expectations

Each section of this package will take approx. 40mins to complete and has a learning video supported by study notes and resource pack for download/printing. The four key areas of communication and language also have an activity form to enhance the learning experience. You will be directed in the learning video when to complete the activity.

By completing the learning sequence, practitioners will be able to:

• set personal goals to boost adult/child interactions.
• learn to reflect on personal and team practice regarding communication and language.
• improve observation and assessment skills.
• better understand children’s communication and language needs.

This package is suitable for all early years providers including schools.

If you are a non-Derbyshire practitioner wishing to access this package please be aware that this package has a charge of £165 for non-Derbyshire practitioners.