Supporting communication needs in the early years of childhood

Let’s Talk More was launched across Devon in 2014 by a steering group comprising strategic leads from speech and language therapy (SLT), the public health nursing team (PHN), children’s centres and the early years advisory team.

Each agency had identified challenges to their service as a direct result of delayed communication, speech and language (CSL), which Let’s Talk More aimed to address. These included lengthy waiting times for SLT, earlier help for children in the community to avoid the need for SLT, changing referral practices to reduce referrals when children turned three and an increased focus on school-readiness.

Children can be identified any time between 24 and 35 months and by anyone. Early identification is encouraged so assessment is often indicated following the 27 months developmental check or as part of the child’s integrated two-year review. Children are assessed by a trained member of PHN or children’s centre teams or an early years practitioner using the relevant tool. Assessment considers attention; listening; understanding; using language; speech sounds; social use of language. It uses play alongside observation and discussion with parents.