Lancashire Quality Award – Communication and Language

Speech, language and communication skills underpin children’s learning.

Children’s back and forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. Young children need lots of opportunities to have conversations with adults and to hear them modelling language and introducing new words. They learn language better when they are engaged with things that fascinate, challenge and excite them. They need to hear and say new words often to strengthen the connections in their brains and to keep building their vocabulary.

This award will enable you to reflect on and expand your practice in supporting children’s communication and language using the award materials and support from a mentor.

Consideration is given to a set of module standards and how to further improve and develop practice in these areas:

1. Environment - The environments, both indoors and outdoors, are communication friendly
2. Routines - The events of the day and regular routines are valued as learning opportunities
3. Engagement with parents - Practitioners work with parents to support communication and language development
4. Interactions - High quality interactions with appropriate back and forth conversations are strongly promoted
5. Learning and Development - Practitioners can demonstrate approaches in their practice which support children’s communication development
6. Children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs - Practitioners support children effectively to improve their outcomes
7. Workforce Development - Professional development is a priority to ensure practitioners have a thorough knowledge of children’s typical speech, language and communication development
8. Leadership and Management - There is a strong commitment to promoting speech, language and communication in the setting.

In order to be considered for the award at least one member of your team must attend each of the following essential training courses to support self-reflection of this module prior to submission:

• Look Who’s Talking 0-3 OR
• Confident Communicators 3-5

Other recommended training:

• Vocabulary – Supporting Vocabulary Development to Close the Word Gap
• An Introduction to Signing
• Early Talk Boost
• Every Child a Talker
• Too Many Questions??

Please see the above course links for dates throughout the year.

Cost:

£240 for PVIs 

This includes:

• Your module pack
• Introductory online session to introduce the award at your own staff meeting
• Half price access to all essential and recommended training
• One verification visit
• Verification and awarding process