Early years communication and language toolkit workshop

This workshop is for professionals only

Early Years Communication And Language Toolkit Banner (1)

This workshop introduces how to use the Early Years Communication and Language Toolkit to observe, understand and support children’s communication in everyday contexts. It explores how the toolkit can be used flexibly to recognise each child’s strengths, communication style and areas where support may be helpful.

The toolkit includes observation and screening tools alongside practical strategies to help adults adapt their communication, environments and interactions to support children’s participation.

Aim of this workshop

By the end of this workshop, you will:

recognise that communication develops differently for different children
feel confident using the toolkit to observe and understand children’s communication profiles
be able to use the toolkit flexibly to plan supportive, meaningful next steps
adapt your environment and interactions to support communication and participation
use practical strategies to support a range of communication styles (including non‑verbal communication)

Entry criteria

This workshop is for professionals working with children aged 0–5 years in early years, e.g. practitioners, support staff, childminders, SEND staff.

Booking information

This workshop is free. If you’re unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your place to others. In line with our policy, non-attendance may incur a fee.

This workshop is via Microsoft Teams video call.

Bedford Borough

Only available to professionals working in Bedford Borough

Workshops in Bedford Borough have not been scheduled for Autumn 2026. Please check back at the end of the Autumn term for Winter term dates.

Central Bedfordshire

Only available to professionals working in Central Bedfordshire

Dates: Tuesday 16 June 2026

Times: 1pm to 3pm

Dates: Tuesday 29 September 2026

Times: 1pm to 3pm

If you work in Central Bedfordshire, you will need to log into the e-learning portal Learning Central to access the workshop. Read more about Learning Central.

Book on this workshop on Learning Central. Please note, this link will only work if you are logged into Learning Central.

Luton

Only available to professionals working in Luton:

Dates: Thursday 19 November 2026
Times: 10am to 12pm

To book please email flyingstarttraining@eyalliance.org.uk

Early years communication and language toolkit summary video

Last reviewed: 1 November, 2024

Speech, language and communication

Information and advice

Girl sitting down fiddling with her hair and smiling. She is facing a man who is smiling back at her.

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years
SEND

Speech, language and communication advice

Communication and language skills are vital for your child’s development. These skills will affect their future life chances and relationships. It can also impact your child’s ability to learn, make friends and develop ideas and opinions.

Two girls playing telephone with tin cans and string. Background is a grey sofa. Girl in foreground listening to tin can and smiling

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Attention and listening skills

The most important skills needed for communication are attention and listening skills. All other communication skills are based upon the ability to pay attention and listen.

4 girls dancing together and holding hands in a circle

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Playing and social skills

Play is your child’s way of exploring and learning about the world. It can help them understand new words and learn how to communicate with others. Playing and social skills are important for your child to learn.

10 year old boy sitting in classroom at desk, looking up

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Understanding language

Understanding spoken language helps children follow instructions, answer questions, understand stories and identify objects and pictures. A child’s understanding of language is usually ahead of their ability to use language.

Two young primary school girls laughing together in the playground.

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Using language

Use of language is also known as ‘expressive language’. It is how your child is learning to say new words and put them together into sentences. Use of language also includes non-verbal communication like gestures.

Young girl smiling whilst pushing keys on a keyboard. A woman in the foreground is facing the girl and conducting.

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Speech sounds

Speech sounds are the individual sounds we use to make words. The sounds we make when we speak are made from the voice box (larynx), mouth muscles, jaw, lips, teeth, and tongue. In English we have 46 sounds for 26 letters of the alphabet.

Adult and two children talking in a bed.

5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Storytelling and narrative

Learning to tell a story and sequence events are essential skills for children and teenagers to learn. It will help them understand the order of events and how to tell an engaging story. These stories can be from their imagination or repeating the events of the day.

Young boy sitting on the floor writing on a piece of paper on a coffee table. Behind him sitting on the sofa is his mother and older brother.

5-11 Years
11-19 Years

Developing language

As children grow older, their list of words they know becomes bigger and more complicated. They learn new ways to put words together into sentences. Their understanding and comprehension of spoken, non-spoken and written communication also improves.

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Looking over the shoulder of a woman writing on her lap in the living room.