Programme of Work

In order to be able to achieve the Trust goals, there are a number of projects we are working on. Each project is being supporters by the founders of the Trust in conjunction with 30 expert organisations across the voluntary and community sector.


Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF)

This will identify the skills and knowledge necessary Teacher and pupil
for the children’s workforce to
support children’s communication effectively, support the inclusion of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and create the best outcomes for children mapped against the Every Child Matters agenda.

The Framework aims to support managers in assessing the skills and knowledge of their staff and to identifying staff training and development programmes that help staff develop appropriate skills.

Please click here for more information.


Speech, language and communication units


We are currently developing a number of units for the Qualification and Curriculum Framework (QCF) around speech, language and communication. The units will be available as optional/specialist units in the new Level 3 Diploma for the Children's Workforce (level 3 is quivalent to an A-Level). There are three units, each worth three credit (30 guided learning hours), two of these units will be mandatory and one will be optional.

Our aim is for anyone working with children can complete these units and show that they have a qualification in this area and they can attract funding for this training. We hope to have them available by January 2010.


Working in partnership with the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT)

The aim of this partnership is to raise awareness of speech, language and communication issues to secondary schools, through a network of schools, to help them in narrowing the gap in attainment with children with speech, language and communication needs, building confidence of secondary school teachers to support all children communication development.

Please click here for more information.

Youth Justice work

We are embarking on vital work within the youth justice sector. Our aim is to raise awareness of the issues around speech, language and communication to those working with young people who offend and provide them with information, resources and support to identify the issues and know where to find support.

Please click here for more information.


Reports

Inclusion Development Programme (IDP):

The IDP (year 1) includes advice and guidance for all teachers and teaching assistants on developing a communication supportive environment. This may be viewed and downloaded from http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk. The Trust is evaluating various models of delivering the IDP, using the SLCF as a pre and post training tool.

Please click here to view the report.

Consultation with children and young people

The Trust wants to ensure the voice of children and young people is represented in its work. We have been consulting with children and young people to discover their views on the role adults play in supporting communication skills. The focus to date has been around the workforce in school, and the young people have given us a real insight into what they think is needed. The young people we have consulted with have commented on how much they value communication skills and feel it is an essential life skill both now and for their future. This report is now available, please go to the Download page to download and instructions for ordering.


Consultation with children and young Pupils enjoying lessonpeople


The Trust has been commissioned by the Children's Workforce Development Council to gather the views of children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs about the people they come across in the children's workforce. This will build on the research we have already carried out. This will be done through a number of focus groups. We were also present at the recent I CAN Roadshow in Kirkby, here we were able to talk to a number of children about their thoughts on their teachers. 

A Chance To Talk


A Chance to Talk is a three way project between The Communication Trust, I CAN and Every Child a Chance Trust. A Chance to Talk is 3 WAVE approach to supporting the speech, language and communication skills of reception aged children and is a response to concerns that in some parts of the country upwards of 50% of children are entering primary schools with poor language skills.

Alongside supporting the development of strong universal provision, creating ‘communication friendly schools’, A Chance to Talk includes a focused intervention aimed at supporting those children with language delay to ‘catch up’ and the development of specialist support for those with more entrenched and long term difficulties. A Chance to Talk is being developed based on existing best practice and available evidence of what works and will bring voluntary sector expertiese and resources into partnership with local provision.

We are currently securing the pilot sites for this project and will be confirmed shortly. Updates on the project will also go into our monthly newsletter. Please e-mail enquiries@thecommunicationtrust.org.uk to sign up for the newsletter.