Communication and language
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework
The statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) says:
The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development. Children’s back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children's language effectively. Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive. Through conversation, story-telling and role play, where children share their ideas with support and modelling from their teacher, and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.
The help for early years providers website, from the Department for Education, provides information, guidance and practical support for delivering the EYFS framework.
Training
- An introduction to signing
This session will provide an introduction to signing and will help you to determine whether further training is the way forward for your setting. - Confident communicators - Developing communication and language from 3 to 5 year olds
This session will support all practitioners to develop knowledge and understanding of speech, language and communication from three to five years old. - Early Talk Boost
Early Talk Boost is a targeted intervention aimed at 3-4 year olds with delayed language development. This session is relevant to any practitioners who will be delivering the intervention programme in their setting. - Every child a talker – an introduction to the ECAT programme
This session provides a walkthrough of the ECAT materials enabling you to then implement the programme in your setting. - Look who's talking – developing communication and language from birth to three years old
This session will support all practitioners to develop knowledge and understanding of speech, language and communication in the early years. - ??Too Many Questions??
This session will support all practitioners to consider their questioning techniques and ensure they use appropriate questions according to the children they are working with. - Vocabulary - Supporting vocabulary development to close the word gap
This session will focus on understanding what the word gap is and the impact this can have on children's development, knowing how vocabulary can be developed through understanding the sequence of learning for communication and language and promoting the teaching of new vocabulary using a variety of strategies which include talking, singing, reading and playing.
Publications
Visit the publications for sale page to view and order publications including the following resources to support communication and language:
- Promoting communication and language through enabling environment
- Walk and Talk cards
- Flip book prompt cards
Tools
The communication and language roadmap and toolkit will help you to decide which is the best route for each unique child in your setting. It provides strategies and useful resource links for universal, targeted and specialist support.
Lancashire Quality Awards
The Communication and Language Award is an opportunity to reflect on and improve your practice and provision using our award materials and training with mentor support.
The self-evaluative reflective tool will support practitioners to fully consider the key skills required for learning and developing within Communication and Language.
Language Leads Newsletter
The Language Leads Newsletter is free to language leads.
Visit the language leads page to download the latest edition or complete the Language Leads Application Form (office.com) to start receiving them.