Guide to embedding baby talk strategy in local authorities
A new guide calling for local authorities to ensure that early years communication is a designated responsibility within every local authority has been launched by the National Literacy Trust's early language campaign Talk to Your Baby (TTYB).
The free paper - Guidance for developing a strategic approach to speech, language and communication in the early years - provides local authorities with a structure for a sustained approach to early communication work and a way of developing an authority-wide approach to provision.
It includes six best practice case studies of current projects in Coventry, Hackney and the City, Leicester, Plymouth, Stoke-on-Trent and Warwickshire.
It also promotes a community-wide focus on early communication, provides steps to ensure a sustainable approach to the issue and focuses on prevention strategies to reach children and their parents at the earliest stage.
The paper follows government reviews and initiatives such as the Bercow Report and Every Child a Talker that have highlighted the need for local authorities to address early years communication provision.
TTYB also said the paper was a response to the fact that early years communication provision is often characterised by effective but short-term initiatives and lacks the input of local authority senior management.
Liz Attenborough, manager of TTYB, said, 'Communication is the basis on which all children learn, achieve and make friends. It is vital to the development of social and emotional well-being.'
To download the guidance visit www.talktoyourbaby.org.uk
