0-2 years: What can I do as a practitioner? - Services for all
This is for all children and parents – to promote good speaking and listening
What can I do?
1001 days (conception until 2 years) are critical in a child’s life and directly impact on their development and future outcomes.
For children of any age growth is an important indicator of their health and wellbeing. Their health and wellbeing in turn impacts directly on their opportunity for optimal learning and development and thus their future outcomes.
Speech, language and communication are key indicators of a child’s future outcomes making chat, play and read so important. The importance of parents building a relationship and developing communication skills begins during pregnancy and continues after birth right through the early years and into adulthood.
- Answer:
Assess and monitor children’s communication development as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage. If the child has English as a second language talk to parents about how the child performs in their home language.
Early Years settings can use screening tools to assess a childs needs, put in place a plan with targets, sharing targets with parents and monitor this plan making a note of progress or ongoing difficulties.
- Answer:
From copying facial expressions in a new born baby to using gestures and singing, through to books and pretend play, a child’s first few years lay the roots for speech and language development. This begins with attention and listening skills, playing and interaction then leading up to understanding.
- Give each child a communication and language target. Regularly monitor and review this and update the targets to ensure continuous progress
- Give each child individual attention
- It is important to say their name when you speak to your child. Focus on giving them your full attention and show interest in what they are interested in.
- Get down to the childs level when you are interacting with them
- Wait and listen before speaking, to allow the child space and time to think and respond
- Engage with children by repeating and extending their communication.
- Talk often, use activities to Introduce new words, use a variety of language
- During everyday activities talk about what you are doing
- Read books with children regularly
- It is never too early for books. Staffordshire Library and Stoke on Trent Libraries
- offer a range of books and activities. New born babies like strong contrasting colours so will love black and white images. Make them fun using different voices and facial expressions. Talk about the pictures and using props or finger puppets to help bring stories alive.
- Re read books so children become familiar with the words
- Use questions to stimulate language
- Give each child individual attention
- It is important to say their name when you speak to your child. Focus on giving them your full attention and show interest in what they are interested in.
- Get down to the childs level when you are interacting with them
- Wait and listen before speaking, to allow the child space and time to think and respond
- Engage with children by repeating and extending their communication.
- Talk often, use activities to Introduce new words, use a variety of language
- During everyday activities talk about what you are doing
- Read books with children regularly
It is never too early for books. Staffordshire Library and Stoke on Trent Libraries
offer a range of books and activities. New born babies like strong contrasting colours so will love black and white images. Make them fun using different voices and facial expressions. Talk about the pictures and using props or finger puppets to help bring stories alive.
- Re read books so children become familiar with the words
- Use questions to stimulate language
- Answer:
Re-screen to review progress and feedback to parents and carers. If no progress has been made consider moving to the Specialist Support stage.
- Answer:
Signpost families to the Staffordshire Children’s Centres offer and encourage them to participate in activities. Encourage families to follow their local Children’s Centre Facebook page so they are aware of new sessions and are accessing information relevant to families. All details can be found on Staffordshire Connects Children’s Centres. Refer families meeting the Free Pass Card criteria into the scheme to support with the financial barrier of attending sessions. Encourage families to complete a Children’s Centre membership form. These can be obtained by contacting your local Children’s Centres.
Family Hubs
Signpost families to the Staffordshire Family Hub page on Staffordshire Connects so they can be aware of the projects delivered by the hub which support children’s development and support families. Encourage families to follow their local Family Hub on Facebook so they are accessing information relevant to families.
Please see Stoke on Trent Children’s Centres for more information on the Children’s Centre offer in this area.