Research on an early years programme designed to help practitioners support their children’s speech, language, and communication needs in childcare settings.
The challenge: Early years practitioners – such as nursery workers and child minders – can help identify children who are at risk of language difficulties. However, they don’t always have access to training around speech, language, and communication needs. Training early years workers to identify and help tackle language difficulties in children is vital to helping improve language and communication skills.
What we’re doing about it
Better Start Bradford have funded the I CAN Early Talk programme. This provides intensive support and training to early years practitioners. BHT Early Education and Training have been delivering I CAN training to early education and care settings.
Findings
In conjunction with the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR), we also looked at how the COVID-19 pandemic affected practitioners in early years settings such as nurseries. We found that priorities shifted towards looking after children’s physical health during that time, but that practitioners found the I CAN Early Talk project a good source of support during difficult times. Many expressed concerns about children starting school after lockdown, having missed going to nursery. See our research reports below for more details.
All practitioners that took part in I CAN Early Talk and completed satisfaction questionnaires found the programme useful. Over 200 practitioners have received the training. They will be able to use what they have learnt to support around 1,000 children that attend their nurseries, reception classes, and other settings that provide early childcare.
Future plans
I CAN Early Talk was delivered until January 2023. We are sharing our results from the project with local and national partners to enable early years practitioners to support children’s speech, language, and communication needs.
Project summary written by Rachael Cheung
the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub 
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