More children from across Norfolk are starting school equipped with good communication skills thanks to an innovative project which is providing the best possible speech and language support. 

‘Talk About’, which is delivered by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCH&C), sees specialist staff work closely with early years’ practitioners to help them understand how young children learn to communicate and how they can support a child who is struggling.

The project, which was launched in 2012, has already had a significant impact on children’s development, with new figures showing that the number of three to five year olds identified as ‘at risk of language delay’ has reduced from 27% to 18% as a result of the intervention.

Helen Angell, Project Lead for Talk About, explained: “We know that early intervention is crucial for children with delayed communication skills. If they get the right input before the age of five and these difficulties are resolved, then they are just as likely as their peers to develop the language skills which are essential for learning at school.

“In some areas of Norfolk, 50% of children start school with a speech and language difficulty. We’re delighted that the Talk About project is making such a difference by upskilling the early years’ workforce to identify and support these children.

“This latest set of results is robust evidence that by working together with early years’ staff, we can make a significant and measurable impact on children’s communication.”

The Talk About project, which is funded by Norfolk County Council, sees nine Speech and Language Therapists from NCH&C deliver training to staff from early years settings. This includes information about how children’s speech and language develops, how to spot when communication skills are not developing as well as usual, how best to interact with children to promote language development and ways to support both children and their parents.

The training makes sure early years practitioners can spot any patterns of need, as well as individual children who need help, so that those who start nursery with delayed language can catch up with their peers before starting school.

Alan Hunter, Interim Locality Manager for the Healthy Child Programme, City and South said: “Reducing the number of three to five year olds at risk of language delay from 27% to 18% represents a reduction of over 30% in the space of just 18 months, which is brilliant news.

“It will bring obvious benefits for the children throughout their lives, as well as their families, while also empowering the staff who have helped on their journey.”

For more information about Talk About, visit www.talkaboutnorfolk.co.uk

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