Almost 30% of children do not exceed the expected level of communication, language and literacy in South Yorkshire. That is over 4,500 children that are at risk of not achieving their potential each year.

Speech, language and communication (SLC) skills are critical to children’s development. Being able to speak clearly, process sounds, understand others, think critically and express their ideas are fundamental building blocks to overall development, and educational outcomes later in their lives.

SLC skills underpin other areas of children’s development. They enable children to understand and be understood, to build relationships with others, and to learn. Children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) have a high risk of difficulties with reading, writing and spelling.

Our ambition is that all children in South Yorkshire begin school ready to thrive.

South Yorkshire Talking Together delivers a wide range of quality training courses. You’ll find details of the courses we deliver below. If you are interested in accessing training, please contact us on SYTTDoncaster@doncaster.gov.uk for more information.

It takes a whole village to raise a child- Universal Training is offered to all community sector staff teams;
Libraries, museums, heritage, voluntary groups, foster carers, community grant fund recipients, health teams, family hubs, Foundation Stage teams, childcare providers, Early Help teams and LA Early Years services.
The training is separated over two modules. Each module has the following aims:

Module 1 – Laying the Foundations

• To discuss the importance of early speech, language and communication- and the impact it has for all later learning
• To discuss the links between emotional well-being, early brain development, infant mental health and communication and language development

Module 2 – Communication for Life

• To increase knowledge of typical speech, language and communication development for all children including those learning more than one language
• To share the reasons why some children have difficulties with SLC and the importance of identifying and responding to these concerns

The enhanced training package is for Early Years Practitioners working in schools/settings who do interventions with children both in groups and on a 121 basis. The training consists of four workshops:

Workshop 1 –  Attention and Listening

• To review the typical development of Attention and Listening in order to identify children who require targeted support
• To consider factors that may affect children’s attention and listening development and the impact these may have on all areas of learning, development, well-being and social relationships
• To highlight the role of people, places and spaces in supporting attention and listening within communities, homes and settings
• To share targeted activities and appropriate strategies that can be used across a child’s day in early years settings, community activities and at home

Workshop 2 – Understanding

• To review the typical development of Understanding of Language in order to identify children who require targeted support
• To consider factors that may affect children’s understanding of language and the impact these may have on all areas of learning, development, well-being and social relationships
• To highlight the role of people, places and spaces in supporting  understanding within communities, homes and settings
• To share targeted strategies and appropriate activities that can be used across a child’s day in early years settings, community activities and at home

Workshop 3 – Expressive language

• To review the typical development of Expressive Language and Social Use of Language in order to identify children who require targeted support
• To consider factors that may affect children’s expressive language development and the impact these may have on all areas of learning, development, well being  and social relationships
• To highlight the role of people, places and spaces in supporting  attention and listening within communities, homes and settings
• To share targeted strategies and activities that can be used across a child’s day in early years settings, community activities and at home

Workshop 4 – Speech

• To review the typical development of Speech and Phonology (use of speech sounds) in order to identify children who require targeted support
• To consider factors that may affect children’s speech development and the impact these may have on all areas of learning, development, well-being  and social relationships
• To highlight the role of people, places and spaces in supporting  speech development within communities, homes and settings
• To share targeted strategies and activities that can be used across a child’s day in early years settings, community activities and at home