Supporting Early Language Development (SELD)

According to research by Speech and Language UK (formerly I CAN), at least 1.7 million children in this country are behind with talking and understanding of words.

Wider research and data confirm this picture. The percentage of pupils formally identified as having a primary special need in speech, language and communication is steadily rising - up to 22.5% in 2021, compared with 18.8% in 2015.

In response to the identified need, both the revised EYFS statutory framework (DfE 2021) and The Reading Framework (DfE 2021) stress the importance of developing all children’s speech, language and communication skills as foundation skills for academic and social success. These documents highlight the need to focus on early spoken language because it is both the means through which children learn from adults, and an important means through which they demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the curriculum, and of themselves and the world.

The Early Language Programme is fully funded by the Department for Education and will be free for schools to attend. The course will consist of 6 sessions over the course of the year. Each session will last approximately 2.5 hours and will have a different focus covering the following:

• What is language and how is it developed?

• Supporting talk in schools

• Teaching words and making them stick - extending and deepening pupils vocabulary 

• Identifying and supporting SLCN

• Making change: Sustaining change

• Sharing the schools progress in implanting Early Language Development