Support for Children to Learn to Talk and Communicate

Every child deserves the best start in life and developing speech and language skills are important life skills. Effective communication is essential for letting us know what they need, learning at school, socialising with family, and playing with friends.

Research into brain development has shown that the first three years of a child’s life are critical for the development of robust language and communication skills.

While most children develop language skills with few problems, some need more support. This support can come from family members, childcare practitioners, and early years workers.

Stages of Speech and Language Development

Children develop their speech, language, and communication skills at different rates. Knowing what is typical can help identify speech and language problems early.

• Talk with Me – Learning to Talk – Ages and Stages – This resource has information on the stages of speech and language development and tips on helping your child learn to talk and understand words.
• Speech and Language UK – Help for Families – Free resources and services to help with understanding child’s speech, language, and communication milestones, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

How to Encourage Your Child’s Language Development

There are many activities you can do at home or in your local area, to help develop your child’s speech, language, and communication skills.

• Parent and toddler groups: You can find local groups near you to connect with other families and share activities on Dewis.
• Let’s Talk with your Baby: A FREE, fun, and interactive course for families with babies aged 3-12 months. It offers structured time for engagement and play, along with tips on supporting the development of babies’ speech, language, and communication skills. Click here to find out more and register a place
• Talk With Me: Produced by the Welsh Government, this campaign encourages parents to play, listen, and talk with their children aged 0-5 years. The Talk with Me website and Talk With Me Facebook page host a range of helpful, expert-led, accessible tools, tips, and resources to support parents on their child’s language-learning journey.
• Tiny Happy People – Children’s language learning – A collection of films and articles providing advice on children’s language skills. Explore collections for early language skills and top tips categorised by age.
• Parenting Give it Time – Find out what you can do as a parent to help your child’s development.
• 1^st 1,000 Days – New Parent Network – Offers guidance on how to encourage a child’s language development.
• NSPCC Look, Say, Sing Play Campaign – Provides fun and easy tips to incorporate Look, Say, Sing, and Play into your daily routine with your baby.

What to do if you are worried

If you have tried the activities and websites above but you are still concerned about your child’s speech and language development, there are several steps you can take to get the support they need.

• Talk to Your Health Visitor or GP: They can provide guidance and may suggest further action.

• Support from the Early Years Team: We offer support with speech, language and communication development (ages 0-3 years) through groups or individual sessions. Please contact us to request support.

• Childcare settings use the COMIT toolkit: If your child goes to a childcare setting in Caerphilly borough, the childcare team will use the toolkit to understand your child’s communication development and appropriate targets and activities to support them.
• Speech and Language Therapy Referral: If your child is 2 ½ years old, you can ask your Health Visitor or GP for a referral to speech and language therapy. Alternatively you can make a referral yourself to Children’s Services at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Follow the ABUHB Children’s Speech and Language Therapy service on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

Specialist Resource Base (SRB) Outreach Service – Support from the SRB Outreach Service is available for children attending school-based nursery, from the September after their third birthday. If school staff feel that your child is experiencing difficulties with speech and language, they will discuss this with you and can request an evaluation from the Outreach Speech and Language Service team. A Specialist Teacher or Communication Worker will visit your child’s school nursery to observe them and gather information. If appropriate, a team member will work with you and your child, providing advice and activities to help develop your child’s speech, language, and communication skills. The SRB Outreach Service works closely with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Speech and Language Therapy service.