Communication and language

Communication and language skills are the foundations for children’s learning in school and beyond.  The term “communication” covers a range of skills, from knowing how to build a sentence to using eye contact and facial expression appropriately.  Most children acquire language naturally in the early years, but many, particularly in areas of social deprivation, do not.  Language skills at age 5 are a strong predictor of academic achievement, life chances and long-term mental health.  That’s why it’s so important that we identify language needs early on, so we have the best chance of helping these children be ready for learning, and ready for life beyond school.

Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) 0-5 Pathway

The Cheshire East Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) 0-5 Pathway is a tool to help parents, carers and professionals support the speech, language and communication needs of all children.

The pathway was developed by members of the Early Years team, Specialist Speech and Language Therapists and Health Visitors with the specialist support of advisers from The Communication Trust and I CAN through the Early Years SEND Partnership programme.

This pathway includes:

  • Information about what to do at the universal, targeted and specialist levels of need
  • The processes to follow for health professionals, early years providers and practitioners and the Cheshire East Early Years team; this includes posters to display and share
  • Information for parents and carers, including who to contact for support and advice
  • Additional useful information e.g. speech and language referral links and explanations of terms
  • Useful information from Cheshire East Family Hub Journey
  • Early Years Training 

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The Levels of Need outline the ways children with speech, language and/or communication needs can be identified early on; they also give details of the tiered response to meet the needs of every child and this is broken down by age group. Strategies and interventions to provide targeted support accompany this information.

Cheshire East Chatters

Cheshire East Chatters is a collaborative initiative led by Speech and Language Therapists and members of the Early Years team.  We aim to upskill Early Years Practitioners to identify and provide support for children’s language difficulties as early as possible.  Our training courses are offered universally and we also offer bespoke support to target settings in the most socially deprived areas of Cheshire East.

Cheshire East Chatters is excited to offer early years training opportunities on the ChESS Early Years Training Hub.

​ChESS Early Years Training Hub

Resources 

Referral paperwork 

Setting up a communication and Language display 

Dummies Campaigns 

Useful links

Facebook Pages

Page last reviewed: 13 March 2025

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