Early years practitioners

In Nottinghamshire we have a wide variety of professional development opportunities that will allow early years practitioners to complete all the universal and enhanced competencies on the Communication Trust’s Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF). Click here for information about this national framework. 

We also have a Talking Together Service available within and outside the county, providing an evidence-based way to utilise early years pupil premium to support children's speech, language and communication.

Training for everyone

We recommend that all early years practitioners who work face to face with children and families attend the following courses once, which will fulfil competencies at the universal level of the framework.

• Talking Matters
• Let’s Interact
• Communication For All
• Supporting Children with English as an Additional Language (EAL) skills

All of these courses are available for early years practitioners across Nottinghamshire through Nottinghamshire County Council's Training and Development Opportunities Offer (TADO).

These courses focus on providing support for vulnerable children, including prevention and early identification and support for children with additional needs.

There are no minimum entry requirements, but it is recommended you do the first three courses in order. Supporting Children with English as an Additional Language can be done at any time. 

Contact ey&cc.training@nottscc.gov.uk for more information.

You may also be able to access bespoke courses specifically for your setting. Please contact your local Children’s Centre's Speech and language therapist to find out if your setting is eligible.

The Talking Together Service provides an evidence - based way to use early years pupil premium to support children's speech, language and communication needs.

The Achievement and Equality Team

This team is available to provide advice, guidance and training for practitioners on issues relating to black and minority ethnic children (including those who have English as an additional language). Please email ecas or call the team on 0115 854 6440 for further details.

If you have more interest in supporting achievement and equality, you can access further training from the Achievement and Equality Team (Education Improvement Service). Courses currently available include:

• Assessing, planning and monitoring progress for pupils new to English – early years foundation stage (EYFS)
• Embedding culture in the EYFS
• Myth busting and responding to racism
• Supporting children with EAL skills
• The role of the EAL co-ordinator

Training for specific language roles

For early years practitioners with specific roles to develop children’s speech, language and communication skills, such as Home Talk workers, language leads and TAs, we recommend further training. Practitioners should speak to their local Children’s Centre or supporting SLT for recommendations. Some possible options are:

How to deliver listening and narrative groups

• Leading on Language course
• Individual support on specific aspects from Children’s Centres SLT
• Language Lead and Signs and symbols  networks
• Environmental audits such as communication friendly, signs and symbols.
• Screening tools to help you monitor children’s progress around speech, language and communication.
• Language lead continuum
• Language lead networks
• Language lead accreditation

Nottinghamshire’s Language Lead scheme provides a route from enhanced professional role responsibility for language development in an early years setting, through to accreditation that leads to a Level 3 award in “Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Needs”.

We can support 18 practitioners a year through the accreditation process. Email for further information about this scheme or visit our language lead page.

Early years settings

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Early Years Specialist Teacher Team work to support settings to ensure they meet the high standards required by Ofsted, which includes good communication supportive environments. Email for more information. 

Nottinghamshire County Council’s Early Years Educational Improvement Team work similarly to support school nurseries to ensure they meet the high standards required by Ofsted, which includes good communication supportive environments. Email for more information. 

Nottinghamshire Children and Families Partnership Speech and Language Therapy Team are also available to support some settings to improve their communication environments, and to help support early identification and intervention for children with identified speech, language and communication needs. Contact your local Children’s Centre speech and language therapist for more information.