What Works .....?
In response to demands from teachers, head teachers, speech and language therapists and other practitioners, The Communication Trust has worked with the Better Communication Research Group to develop the What Works database of evidenced interventions, approaches and programmes to support positive outcomes in children's speech, language and communication.
The What Works database is now live and you can search the database of evidenced interventions by age range, target group, who the intervention is delivered by and the level of evidence.
Register today and start searching for evidence based targeted interventions using What Works.
Posted on 17th May, 2013
NAPLIC Conference 2013
The NAPLIC conference on Saturday 27th April was a great success. The conference focused on SLI and considered the impact of diagnosis on provision, intervention and outcomes for children and young people with specific language impairment.
Tina Pereira, Specialist Speech & Language Therapist and Helen Colles, Educational Psychologist presented Worcestershire's pathway for the identification of Specific Language Impairment.
Anna Branagan and Stephen Parsons gave a brilliant introduction to Word Aware. Don't miss the Word Aware course coming to Worcestershire in July. For more information go to our courses page.
Posted on 30th April, 2013
Goodbye Hello
The Communication Trust has published a final evaluation report for Hello, the national year of communication describing the impact the campaign had.
Goodbye Hello highlights results of surveys that took place, the resources that were produced, the work of the local Hello co-ordinators and case study examples of the impact of the campaign. It also talks about the legacy of Hello and what still needs to happen.
The Trust has collated some of the fantastic activities and achievements that took place during the national year of communication into one document, Hello Journey. The Journey showcases the great work people did across the country. It features a month-by-month account of the Hello themes and includes information about the Shine a Light Awards and resources available.
All of the resources produced during the Hello campaign continue to be available on the Trust's website. Follow the link below to download resources today.
Download a copy of the Goodbye Hello report here.
Download a copy of the Hello Journey document here.
Download resources on The Communication Trust's website.
Posted on 26th February, 2013
A Generation Adrift
The Communication Trust has just launched A Generation Adrift – a new document which draws together research which shows that many children and young people are not being adequately supported to develop good communication skills and children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are often misunderstood or missed altogether.
It shows that high numbers of children living in poverty have SLCN and one-third are not working securely in speech, language and communication when they reach five-years-old.
The Trust is using this opportunity to highlight solutions to these problems, such as the What Works database, which will be launched in the coming months.
A copy of A Generation Adrift can be downloaded here, the Trust would like the publication to reach as many people as possible so please share it far and wide!
Posted on 31st January, 2013
Better Communication Research Programme
The BCRP (Better Communication Research Programme) is a landmark programme of research in SLCN. Part of the Better Communication Action Plan, the government's response to the Bercow Review 2008, the research was published on 27th December 2012.
The Communication Trust will be working with consortium members to disseminate information about the BCRP over the coming months.
The research report makes recommendations within six key areas:
1. Identification - there remain huge challenges at a universal level identifying SLCN; there are continued concerns about the label SLCN, how it is interpreted and that it is too generic when describing specific language and communication impairments.
2. Support - children with language needs require support at all levels, in the classroom as well as from specialists. Children have made it clear what works for them- other people's behaviour and understanding being paramount.
3. Outcomes - children with SLCN do less well in school than peers of similar ability. Measurable outcomes need to be at the heart of the system.
4. Workforce development - there continues to be an ongoing need to raise understanding of SLCN, particularly for teachers in changing their classroom practice.
5. Commissioning - health and education need to work together to deliver needs-led local services. This needs to be developed from universal through to specialist services. Too many children are still "falling through gaps in the system".
6. Research - needs to combine the expertise of practitioners, parents, service providers and researchers to fill the evidence gaps.
Links to the research report can be found on the DFE website, BCRP website and The Communication Trust homepage.
Posted on 10th January, 2013
NAPLIC announces date of 2013 conference
NAPLIC will hold their annual conference on 27th April 2013 at the Lakeside Conference Centre at Aston University, Birmingham.
The conference 'SLI: What's in a name?' will consider the impact of diagnosis on provision, intervention and outcomes for children and young people with specific language impairment.
Speakers to include:
• Dr Vicky Slonims Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist, Newcomen Centre, London: 'Diagnosis and Dilemmas'
• Dr Gina Conti-Ramsden Professor of Child Language and Learning, The University of Manchester: 'Is SLI a condition which changes from childhood to adolescence?'
• Dr Julie Dockrell Professor of Psychology & Special Needs, Institute of Education, London and for the Better Communication Research Programme: ‘What does the 'specific' nature of SLI tell you about needs and academic achievement’
• Dr Courtenay Frazier Norbury Reader in Developmental Neuropsychology, Royal Holloway, University of London:: 'Defining (specific) language impairment: Why getting it right matters'
• Tina Pereira Specialist Speech & Language Therapist & Helen Colles Educational Psychologist: ‘Worcestershire's Pathfinder Project: Identifying & Supporting Children with SLI’
• Marian Downs Specialist Teacher for Speech and Language/Co-ordinator & Jen Smith Speech and Language Therapist, SLI Team, Newcastle upon Tyne: ‘A Salad not a Soup’
This conference will be of interest to: Teachers and SENCOs, Teaching Assistants, Speech and Language Therapists, Advisory Teachers for SLCN, Educational Psychologists and LA Advisors
• Member’s early booking rate held at the 2010 price - £95
• Registration opens on Monday 3rd December 2012
Further information on the NAPLIC website.
Posted on 27th November, 2012
Voice for Life - 6th December, Bristol
Afasic England - Unlocking speech and language
This is an exciting and free event for anyone with an interest in children and young people's speech, language and communication needs. As well as an exhibition, there will be 36 workshops to choose from, being run by a host of national and local agencies and covering a range of topics.
Language for Learning will be exhibiting so make sure to visit the stand to check out new resources, information about training and forthcoming events.
For more information visit Afasic England.
Posted on 13th November, 2012
Cracking Communication Conference
Tuesday 13th November 2012 in Manchester
This conference has been organised by The Communication Trust for school leaders. The conference will provide information and advice to help support outcomes for children and young people with SLCN.
A particular policy focus will be on the inclusion of communication in the new Ofsted framework. Key note speakers include Anne Duffy, a representative from Ofsted, Professor Geoff Lindsay from The Better Communication Research Programme, and Wendy Lee, Professional Director from The Communication Trust.
Marie Gascoigne is running a workshop to support schools as commissioners of services for children and young people with a range of additional needs including SLCN, deciding how precious resources can best be deployed to get maximum benefit.
More information about the conference
Posted on 2nd November, 2012
Language for Learning is now on Twitter!
Follow us @LforLearning for news, training information and resources.
Posted on 27th July, 2012
Signalong Celebrates
Worcestershire is proud to be a Signalong county. Signalong empowers children and adults with impaired communication to understand and express their needs, choices and desires by providing sign vocabulary for life and learning.
Signalong will be celebrating 20 years of promoting better communication on 20th September at the Royal Festival Hall with their Communicating Choices conference. They will be joined by John Bercow, Anna Reeves, Flo Longhorn, Bob Black, Paula Hellal and the Hands & Voices choir.
Posted on 25th July, 2012
No Pens Day Wednesday in the Autumn
No Pens Day Wednesday returns in October 2012 - put down pens and pick up language!
Last year, staff and pupils from over 800 schools put down their pens using resources and lesson templates developed by The Communication Trust. The Trust will be providing more exciting FREE activities, lesson plans and a media toolkit so you can promote your endeavours. You can either join efforts nationally on Wednesday 10th October or run your day whenever suits you.
Go to The Communication Trust to register.
More news from The Communication Trust
Posted on 25th July, 2012
Shine A Light in 2012
The Shine A Light Awards are back for 2012. Organised by The Communication Trust in partnership with Pearson Assessment, the awards celebrate and reward best practice and excellence around supporting children and young people's communication and honour those who make a difference to those with SLCN.
Worcestershire won the Shine A Light Award in 2011 for commissioning. Want to tell the world about the great work you do to support children's communication?
Categories include 'Primary School of the Year Award', 'Secondary School/College of the Year Award', 'Team of the Year Award' and 'Communication Champion Award'.
Information from The Communication Trust about the awards
Posted on 25th July, 2012
RALLI YouTube channel highlights the issues of specific language impairment
RALLI (Raising Awareness of Language Learning Impairments) have launched a YouTube presentation of videos to highlight the issues of SLI (specific language impairment) and how it affects individuals and families.
RALLI was formed by a group of senior academics: Dorothy Bishop, Professor of Developmental Neuropsychology at Oxford University; Gina Conti-Ramsden, Professor of Child Language and Learning at the University of Manchester; Maggie Snowling, Professor of Psychology at the University of York; Dr. Courtenay Norbury, Head of the Literacy, Language and Communication Laboratory at Royal Holloway, University of London; together with Becky Clarke Speech and Language Therapist.
Its aim is to provide inspiring content that helps all of those working with children and young people experiencing SLI and in the process becomes a resource useful to children, families and educators.
Click here http://www.youtube.com/rallicampaign for the RALLI presentation.
Posted on 19th June, 2012
FREE Show Me DVD for all Worcestershire schools and early years settings
Our Show Me DVD is now available and we have a free copy for all Worcestershire schools and early years settings. The DVD was filmed at Foley Park Community Primary School and King Charles Secondary School in Kidderminster. Following an introduction to SLCN by Linda Lascelles, Chief Executive of AFASIC and a number of local expert professionals, ten simple strategies are demonstrated by real practitioners in real settings! The DVD will help you to improve your practice at a whole school and whole setting level.
Schools can pick up their free copy of the Show Me DVD at the joint LST/SLT Conference on Tuesday 26th June. For more information about the conference go to our home page.
Early years settings will receive their free copy through the Every Child a Talker (ECAT) project.
The DVD is also available for purchase in our catalogue.
Posted on 19th June, 2012
NEW Secondary Training now available
The Language for Learning training materials for Key Stages 3 & 4 have undergone significant redevelopment over the last 12-18 months. The new training course is now available and includes a new focus on a whole school approach and planning change effectively. The training is linked to our new book Language for Learning in the Secondary School.
Go to the 'Training' page for more information about the content of the course and the 'Courses' page for information about training in your local area.
Language for Learning in the Secondary School is an essential resource for Secondary Schools from Award Winning authors Sue Hayden and Emma Jordan. It employs the same easy-to-use format as the best-selling Primary version of this book but has been adapted to meet the specific needs of secondary school teachers. This indispensable resource is packed full of practical suggestions on how to support students with speech, language and communication difficulties. Download an order form
Posted on 19th June, 2012
Key documents for Language for Learning trainers
At our update days in Kent and Medway last week we discussed the changing landscape across services and the potential opportunities for supporting children and young people with SLCN.
Here are some of the key documents we discussed:
Jean Gross' final report with key recommendations for services, commissioners and schools. 'Two Years On' report
The publication following the Better Communication conferences in the autumn of 2011 organised jointly by Jean Gross and RCSLT. Following an introduction from Jean Gross and a commissioning paper by Marie Gascoigne, this publication brings together examples of best practice. Download the Better Communication document
In Worcestershire we have adopted the workforce planning framework suggested by Marie in one of the commissioning tools published by CSP. This framework identifies levels of competence within the SLCF for the children's workforce. In Worcestershire we have mapped our own workforce onto this framework and then mapped the training available locally at each level. Download the Workforce Planning Commissioning Tool
Posted on 19th June, 2012
New Guidance on Phonics Screening released from The Communication Trust
Communicating Phonics is a guide to support teachers delivering and interpreting the phonics screening test to children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The guide will help teachers to deliver the test this June, but also has lots of useful tips and advice to support the overall literacy development of children with SLCN.
The phonics checklist, also known as the phonics test or phonics screen, is being administered to Year 1 children from June 2012. The Department for Education has supplied universal guidance for administering the checklist and for interpreting and responding to the results. There are, however, implications for many children with special educational needs (SEN) and particularly those with SLCN.
This guide, put together with the expertise of nearly 50 of specialist organsiations, will support teachers in delivering the test but also in overall literacy development of children with SLCN. The guide isn't just about the phonics test. You will find lots of information and guidance to support the literacy development of children with SLCN beyond the test itself.
Download the teachers' guide to Phonics Screening at http://thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/phonics
Posted on 19th June, 2012
SEN Green Paper - Next Steps published
Support and aspiration: A new approach to special eductional needs and disability - Progress and Next Steps report is now available. This document details the progress made since publication of the SEN Green Paper.
Posted on 19th June, 2012
Worcestershire co-present key note speech at a national conference
Worcestershire was invited to co-present a key note speech at three national conferences organised by Jean Gross, England's Communication Champion and RCSLT. Marie Gascoigne, MGA Consulting supported our Joint Commissioning SLCN Review leading to Worcestershire adopting 'The Balanced System™' (Gascoigne 2010). In addition Worcestershire features as a case study in a range of commissioning tools for SLCN written by Marie and Jean and published by CSP. Emma Jordan was invited to co-present a key note speech with Marie, sharing Worcestershire's journey over the last year.
Worcestershire's speech and language therapy service is licensed to use The Balanced System™. Please click here
http://www.mgaconsulting.org.uk/ for more information.
Download the Better Communication Document
Pictured from left to right: Jean Gross, England's Communication Champion, Marie Gascoigne, MGA Consulting, Emma Jordan and Kamini Gadhok, Chief Executive, RCSLT
Posted on 15th June, 2012
Worcestershire Joint Commissioning Unit win 'Shine A Light Award'
Hello, the National Year of Communication culminated in a celebration of best practice with the Shine A Light Awards.
Over the last 18 months, Emma has worked for the Joint Commissioning Unit in Worcestershire, project managing an extensive commissioning review of services to children and young people with SLCN. The review has led to significant changes, improving services and leading to better outcomes for children.
Posted on 15th June, 2012