Click on the icons below to take you to each website.
Parents and carers can also be directed to useful websites here.
The I CAN website has a section for practitioners which offers free information and advice on speech, language and communication development, as well as offering both practitioners and parents the opportunity to book a free call from an I CAN Speech and Language Therapist if they wish to discuss any concerns. Useful factsheets for practitoners are available here. There are also books and DVDs on communication development available to buy.
The Maternal and Early Years website covers the early years in four sections: Pregnancy, 0-3 years, 3-5 years and 5-8 years. It has a speech, language and communication development section for each age group. Aimed at everyone working in the early years workforce, it provides information relevant to all levels of practitioners. A key element of the site is to provide the best possible links to up-to-date information, resources and support.
Signalong is a sign supported communication system, designed to help children and adults with communication difficulties. It is designed to support spoken language to help people with communication difficulties understand and express themselves. The website offers Signalong resources available to purchase, as well as some free resources to download every Friday.
The Talking Point website offers information on children’s communication development, what to expect at particular ages and stages, and ideas for developing children’s communication. In the Early Years Practitioners section, you will find useful strategies for supporting children’s communication, enriching the nursery environment and helping children to access the curriculum.
The National Literacy Trust’s website has a number of useful downloadable resources. These support the development of early language and communication skills as the vital first step to literacy. There are tips for talking to your baby and young child, and also bilingual tips. To access these resources you need to set up an account.
The Communication Trust website offers free downloadable resources, under the ‘Early Years Recources’ section which give guidance on typical speech and language development, how to develop communication skills, and how to encourage a greater level of parental involvement. Additional booklets and advice sheets are also available to purchase.
The Hanen website offers information on programmes for parents and early years professionals. The programmes and the organisation help to promote the best possible language, social and literacy skills in young children. There are also tips for parents of children with speech, language and communication difficulties. Research articles on speech, language and communication development can also be accessed.
The Action for Stammering Children website offers a section for parents which gives information and advice on stammering in children. It may be useful to suggest that parents try some of the tips and to look at the advice sheets if they are concerned about their child’s fluency.
Health visitors and family nurses have a key role in assessing and profiling speech, language and communication development in children and breaking the inter-generational cycle of speech, language and communication need. They also have a crucial role in supporting parents who are the closest to their child to influence their child’s speech, language and communication development in a non-intrusive way. The “Speech, language and communication: ‘Giving children the best possible start in life’ ” resource supports students, qualified health visitors and family nurses to develop the skills to work effectively in meeting the speech language and communication needs of children in Scotland, as well as empowering parents to give their children the best possible start in life. The tool is interactive and versatile and can be accessed on a computer, tablet and smart phone and has the flexibility to be used to support decision-making and practice regarding speech language and communication in the client’s home or in the clinic as, and when, needed. The tool also signposts practitioners to suitable resources to help empower parents to promote speech, language and communication in their children, and give them the best possible start in life.
Children’s Services website. If you are supporting a child or young person with identified communication needs, then you may find the following website helpful.