Speech and language: Useful information and resources

General strategies and resources – Early Years

• Adapting adult language (PDF)
• Games to develop language (PDF)
• Advice leaflets

Chatter cards

Chatter cards give ideas for simple talking games and activities and were developed in Swindon as part of the 2011 ‘Hello’ Year of Communication.

They encourage adults and young children to engage in talk when they are on the move such as on a train journey, in the supermarket, waiting for a bus or just playing in the park.

Some of the ideas on the chatter cards may be familiar to many people, but they are reminders of how easy it is to find everyday opportunities to engage children in conversation.

Talking with children needn’t be thought of as an extra chore, but something that happens all the time during everyday events

• Chatter Card 1 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 2 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 3 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 4 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 5 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 6 (PDF)
• Chatter Card 7 (PDF)

Schools

• Communication friendly schools checklist (PDF)
• Good practice recommendations for supporting primary and secondary school age children from speech and language UK charity:
  • Primary (PDF)
  • Secondary (PDF)
• Helping children organise their language (PDF)
• Strategies to support SLCN in the classroom (PDF)
• Developing Baseline Communication Skills, Speaking, Listening and Understanding, Understanding and using Spoken Language

Moving on to secondary school

• Strategies for Secondary Age Pupils (PDF)
• Transition to Secondary Factors to Consider (PDF)
• Homework and Revision Top Tips – written for pupils (PDF)
• Understanding others’ points of view in English, History and Religious Studies (PDF)
• Information Passport ADHD, Information Passport Example auditory processing (PDF)
• Word Learning Record Sheet, Word Map Examples and Template (PDF)
• Example of home work planner, and reminder for organising a school bag (PDF)

Resources on other websites

• The Book Trust 
• Let’s Play the Speech and Language Way
• Words for life website
• Better Health Start for Life
• NSPCC Look Say Sing Play also have a YouTube Channel of activities and ideas to promote interaction in the Early Years
• Tiny Happy People
• Children's speech and language resources
• Speech and language, OT, and many other SEND resources for families and schools
• Swindon Libraries has videos of rhyme times and stories on their YouTube channel
• The Scottish Booktrust have produced a free app of nursery rhymes
• The Black Sheep Press
• Commtap communications activities 
• Book Share Time
• The National Literacy Trust
• Primary National Strategy 

Adapting adult interaction

• Interaction Skill - Repeat (PDF)
• Interaction Skill - Expand (PDF)
• Interaction Skill - Comment (PDF)
• Interaction Skill - Follow the leader (PDF)
• Interaction Skill - Take turns (PDF)
• Interaction Skill and Talk Time (PDF)
• Interaction Skill - Interpret (PDF)