Communication skills initiative launches in social mobility 'coldspot'
Nina Jacobs
Thursday, June 20, 2019
A Department for Education-funded scheme is aiming to boost social mobility for Derby's disadvantaged young people by helping to strengthen their communication skills.
Teachers and childcare workers are being offered the training through TALK Derby, which is funded by £845,000 from the DfE as it is a social mobility coldspot.
The initiative encourages schools and childcare settings to pledge to spend more time talking and listening to children and young people, including at mealtimes, during play sessions or just through everyday conversations.
Free training and support for schools, childminders, children's centres and early years settings will be rolled out in eight target wards in Derby.
Around 140 people working with children and young people in these areas will be recruited as "champions" to help promote the aims of the project.
Speech and language specialists will also work with parents and families to deliver interactive sessions to boost their children's communication skills.
The project is being rolled out through the Derby Opportunity Area (OA) programme which focuses on early years and school improvement.
Derby was one of the first six OAs to be announced in 2016 after being identified as a social mobility "cold spot" for attracting government resources to improve outcomes for children and young people.
The city was ranked 316th in the Social Mobility Commission's index of 324 local authority areas.
Children's minister Nadhim Zahawi said he supported projects such as TALK Derby which offered simple solutions to boost children and young people's communication skills.
"You don't need expensive books or toys to help your child develop literacy skills. It can be as simple as reading labels as you go around the supermarket together or pointing out things that you see on the bus - little interactions can have a huge impact," he said.
Zahawi said children from lower income families were more likely to fall behind at school compared to their better-off peers.
"That's why projects like TALK Derby are vital and why we are launching a major new campaign shortly to help parents incorporate Chat, Play and Read into their daily life, putting their children on track to succeed," he added.
The project, which will run until next year, is being co-ordinated by Leicester-based early years consultancy Hempsall's.
"TALK Derby aims to inspire and equip parents and professionals to help our children develop as they should. It's something that benefits us all - in families, communities, education and work," said James Hempsall, the organisation's director.
Councillor Evonne Willliams, Derby Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said the project would help address the issues surrounding social mobility in the city.
"TALK Derby is another piece of the puzzle to tackle it. The Opportunity Area has proved really valuable and the early results are positive," she said.