Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit
Our Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit contains advice, activities and general resources to help with the development of children and young people's speech, language and communication skills.
Early Communication
Before children learn to talk they need to develop their early communication skills, such as: looking, joint attention, taking turns and listening. Some children have difficulties with social skills and interaction i.e. being able to use language and non-verbal communication including eye contact, facial expressions and body language. These skills are regarded as the foundation to speech, language and communication development.
Please see our resources below to help support the development of early communication skills.
Strategies to help understanding:
Interaction Strategies:
- Intensive Interaction.pdf [pdf] 133KB
- People Games.pdf [pdf] 161KB
- Creating Opportunities for Communication.pdf [pdf] 144KB
- May I Join You? English Language - YouTube
Useful Websites:
Early Language
Some children take longer to start using single words and to learn how to put words together into short phrases and sentences.
Please see our resources below to help support the development of early language skills. You may also want to look at our Late Talkers: How to help your child page for further strategies and advice.
Early Language Downloads:
- Promoting Early Language Development.pdf [pdf] 75KB
- Attention and Listening Activity Ideas.pdf [pdf] 106KB
- Action Words: Activity Ideas.pdf [pdf] 151KB
- Gestures.pdf [pdf] 126KB
Useful Websites:
- BBC Tiny Happy People
- Small Talk: Little Ways to make a difference
- Hungry Little Minds: Activities for 0-5
- ICAN: Talking Point
- Something Special (Mr. Tumble): Cbeebies
- The Makaton Charity
- The Makaton Charity: Facebook Page
- The BookTrust: Getting children reading
- Activities for 1-2 years | Words for Life
Language
Spoken language means; grammar, vocabulary, the structure of sentences, re-telling stories/events, understanding questions, following instructions. Children can have difficulty with some or all of these areas.
Children who have difficulties with language past the age of 5 can be diagnosed with 'Developmental Language Disorder'. Read our Developmental Language Disorder parent information leaflet.pdf [pdf] 411KB for further information.
Language Downloads:
Expressive / Grammar
- Top Tips for supporting your child's language development.pdf [pdf] 99KB
- Past tense: regular and irregular.pdf [pdf] 72KB
- Plurals: regular and irregular.pdf [pdf] 72KB
- Position words: in, on and under.pdf [pdf] 149KB
- Pronouns: he and she.pdf [pdf] 141KB
- Size: big and little.pdf [pdf] 136KB
Understanding / Blank Levels
- Top Tips for supporting your child's language development.pdf [pdf] 99KB
- Blank level bookmarks.pdf [pdf] 154KB
- Blank levels activity ideas.pdf [pdf] 1MB
- Blank Level 2 Activity Ideas.pdf [pdf] 1MB
- Developing understanding of 'wh' questions- Blank Level 2.pdf [pdf] 166KB
- Blank Level 3 Activity Ideas.pdf [pdf] 1MB
- Sequencing skills- Blank Level 3.pdf [pdf] 166KB
- Storytelling skills- Blank Level 3.pdf [pdf] 104KB
- Blank Level 4 Activity Ideas.pdf [pdf] 1MB
- Why & How questions- Blank Level 4.pdf [pdf] 153KB
- Visually Supported Conversations- Blank Level 4.pdf [pdf] 394KB
Narrative
Colourful Semantics
- Colourful Semantics demonstration video
- Colourful Semantics questions cards.pdf [pdf] 471KB
- Colourful Semantics Sentence Strips.pdf [pdf] 78KB
- Colourful Semantics: Subject - Verb (SV) sentences.pdf [pdf] 771KB
- Colourful Semantics : Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) sentences.pdf [pdf] 861KB
- Colourful Semantics : Subject -Verb - Object - Place (SVOP) sentences.pdf [pdf] 1007KB
- How to support generalisation of Colourful Semantics in the classroom.pdf [pdf] 438KB
Vocabulary
- Top Tips for supporting your child's language development.pdf [pdf] 99KB
- Category Skills.pdf [pdf] 188KB
- Concepts.pdf [pdf] 153KB
- Describing Words.pdf [pdf] 88KB
- Describing Map- KS1.pdf [pdf] 412KB
- Describing Map- KS2.pdf [pdf] 113KB
- Word-Finding Advice.pdf [pdf] 129K
Visuals
- Clarification cards traffic lights.pdf [pdf] 28KB
- Clarification Solution Board.pdf [pdf] 133KB
- Problem Solving template - behaviour.pdf [pdf] 34KB
- task planner.pdf [pdf] 24KB
Secondary
Speech Sounds
Some children have difficulty with certain sounds, which can make them difficult to understand.
Please see our resources below to help your child listen and hear the difference between sounds. There is also information about typical development to help guide parents and professionals to know when to refer their child for further support.
Speech Sound Downloads:
- Typical speech sound development.pdf [pdf] 134KB
- Strategies to support your child with speech sound difficulties.pdf [pdf] 81KB
- Syllable identification.pdf [pdf] 132KB
- Identifying sounds.pdf [pdf] 122KB
- Object sound sorting.pdf [pdf] 81KB
- Minimal Pairs.pdf [pdf] 89KB
- Minimal Pairs demonstration video: Listening
Stammering
Around 5% of children will experience stammering, particularly between the ages of two and five. Stammering or stuttering is when your child: repeats parts of words (‘m-m-mummy’) repeats short words (‘and-and-and’), gets stuck on the first sound and nothing comes out (‘…I want an ice cream'), and stretches out sounds (‘mmmummy’) You might also notice that your child: uses body movements to help get their words out, shows tension in their face, holds their breath or takes big breaths before talking or avoids eye contact when talking. Each child is different and your child may experience any combination of the above stammering behaviours.
Please see our resources below to help support your child who stammers, and further information about how and when to seek help.
Stammering Downloads:
Useful Websites:
Reluctant Talkers / Selective Mutism
Some children can become reluctant to talk or communicate in certain environments or with certain people.
Please see our resources below to help children who are reluctant with their talking.
Reluctant Talkers Downloads:
- Advice for Reluctant Talkers: Parents.pdf [pdf] 108KB
- Advice for Reluctant Talkers: Professionals.pdf [pdf] 161KB
Useful Websites:
Voice
Voice disorders in children occur most frequently between the ages of 7 and 12 years. Hoarseness (also known as dysphonia) refers to altered vocal characteristics such as voice quality, pitch, resonance, vocal effort or loudness. Heavy use of the voice or using a loud volume can increase the risk of voice disorders such as vocal nodules in children. Some children may experience voice difficulties as a result of psychological or emotional factors. Dysphonia usually resolves within 7-10 days. However, individuals with a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks should be assessed by their GP and / or ENT.
Please see our resources below to help support your child with voice difficulties.