Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Early Talk?
2. Who has used Early Talk?
3. How does Early Talk help local authorities?
4. How does Early Talk help early years staff?
5. How does Early Talk help families?
6. How does Early Talk help Health professionals especially Speech and Language Therapists and other support agencies?
7. I am a childminder/foster carer is Early Talk suitable for me?
8. I am a teacher in a nursery or reception class, how will Early Talk help me?
9. Do I have to buy Early Talk training and accreditation or can I just have one or the other?
10. Can I get training for my whole nursery team?
11. I am interested in Early Talk training/accreditation, how do I know what is the right level for my nursery?
12. Is Early Talk suitable for children for whom English is an additional language (EAL)?
13. Is Early Talk just for England?
14. Is Early Talk available outside the UK?
15. I am an Early Years Professional working in the Republic of Ireland, can I access Early Talk Training?
16. Is Early Talk based on evidence and can I get a copy of the Early Talk research report?
17. Can you recommend a nearby Early Talk-accredited nursery for my child?
18. I am studying to become an Early Years professional and would like to work or volunteer in an I CAN Early Talk accredited setting.
19. How much does Early Talk cost?
20. I am interested to find out more, who can I talk to about Early Talk?
21. I am concerned about the speech and language development of my child - what can I do?
1. What is Early Talk?
Early Talk is a learning programme which combines training for practitioners with accreditation of settings, enabling early years staff to create communication supportive environments and identify and meet the needs of children with Speech, Language and Communication needs (SLCN).
Early Talk :
- Provides training and accreditation at three levels
- Supportive
- Enhanced
- Specialist
- Provides a comprehensive audit of the communication supportive practices within a setting.
- Accreditation status is valid for three years. In order to maintain their accredited status, settings must participate in annual interim reviews.
2. Who has used Early Talk?
- Early years providers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors
- Maintained settings
- Child minders
- Children’s centres
3. How does Early Talk help local authorities?
Early Talk :
- Ensures that the focus on communication remains high.
- Improves Local Authority strategic planning and provision within Early Years. It provides Local Authorities with a tool to shape the level of support available across the early years
- Provides recognition of the quality of communication within early years settings that have achieved accreditation.
- Puts tools in place to help achieve Communication Language & Literacy (CLL) targets (England)
- Supports Every Child a Talker initiative (ECAT) (England)
- Supports Getting it Right for Every Child initiative (GIRFEC)(Scotland)
4. How does Early Talk help early years staff?
Early Talk :
- Supports a range of current government initiatives e.g. Every Child Matters, Every Child a Talker, Inclusion Development Programme , Curriculum for Excellence and GIRFEC targets
- Develops staff CPD and provides all staff with the knowledge and confidence to encourage all children’s speaking and listening skills.
- Provides a framework and tools that allow schools to audit and develop their provision.
- Helps staff assess communication skills better and provides strategies and practical ideas for individual / group / whole class work.
- Accreditation ensures that learning changes practice and is fully embedded
- Provides accessible information and networking opportunities to enable all staff to develop and share best practice
5. How does Early Talk help families?
Early Talk provides :
- Levels at which a school or resource is accredited will assist parents in identifying provision to meet their individual child’s identified needs
- Practical information for practitioners which can be used to support parents / carers
6. How does Early Talk help Health professionals especially Speech and Language Therapists and other support agencies?
Early Talk :
- Facilitates effective collaboration and integrated working
- Helps to emphasise the role of all practitioners in the development of children’s communication skills
- Gives EY practitioners a clearer understanding of the needs of the children SLTs are involved with and how they can assist the work of SLTs
7. I am a childminder/foster carer is Early Talk suitable for me?
Yes, Early Talk is suitable for you. It provides a structured learning and development programme that will enhance your provision for all children. You can also be accredited and gain recognition for your knowledge and skills.
8. I am a teacher in a nursery or reception class, how will Early Talk help me?
Early Talk will help by developing your knowledge, skills and confidence in supporting young children’s communication development. Communication skills are fundamental to learning, friendship and achievement and so will enhance your children’s development and attainment.
9. Do I have to buy Early Talk training and accreditation or can I just have one or the other?
You can buy either or both. We are happy to advise you on what aspects and combinations of Early Talk would work best for you. In order to ensure quality and consistency of provision, support from a local communication advisor and moderation time will also be required.
10. Can I get training for my whole nursery team?
Yes, you can purchase workplace training directly from I CAN. To find out more contact earlytalk@ican.org.uk
11. I am interested in Early Talk training/accreditation, how do I know what is the right level for my nursery?
You can take a look at the accreditation standards on the website (click here) to see if you meet the standards. You can also talk to a regional communication advisor who will help you identify the right level. To contact a member of the team email – earlytalk@ican.org.uk or phone – 0845 225 4071.
12. Is Early Talk suitable for children for whom English is an additional language (EAL)?
Early Talk :
- Raises the profile of communication across a setting.
- Encourages and facilitates best practice which meets the needs of all children including those with EAL.
- Promotes inclusion of all children and helps staff to differentiate their message to ensure that children with little or no English can access learning.
- Encourages settings to provide clear communication for parents as well as children.
13. Is Early Talk just for England?
Early Talk was written specifically for all four nations and specific sections are provided to meet the different approaches to early years education.
14. Is Early Talk available outside the UK?
The constitution of I CAN means that we can only work with organisations and children within the United Kingdom. However practitioners outside the UK can apply to attend workshops where these are being run in the UK.
15. I am an Early Years Professional working in the Republic of Ireland, can I access Early Talk Training?
Please see the Training webpage for details of courses that are available.
16. Is Early Talk based on evidence and can I get a copy of the Early Talk research report?
Early Talk is evidence-informed. You can access summaries of information on the website and /or request a full copy of the research.
Please email earlytalk@ican.org.uk or visit the website.
17. Can you recommend a nearby Early Talk-accredited nursery for my child?
We are not able to recommend individual settings or services. However, you can look out for the Early Talk accreditation certificate or ask your local early years setting if they are involved with Early Talk.
Local authorities that run an Early Talk accreditation programme may be able to provide a list of local settings. Please email earlytalk@ican.org.uk or call 0845 225 4071 to find out if your local authority is an Early Talk accreditor.
18. I am studying to become an Early Years professional and would like to work or volunteer in an I CAN Early Talk accredited setting.
I CAN has no involvement in the staff recruitment of Early Talk- accredited settings. Please contact settings directly.
19. How much does Early Talk cost?
Please contact the Regional Communication Team to find out about the costs of Early Talk by contacting:
20. I am interested to find out more, who can I talk to about Early Talk?
Please contact the Regional Communication Team to find out more about Early Talk by:
21. I am concerned about the speech and language development of my child - what can I do?
If you are at all concerned, you should contact your local speech and language therapy department and ask for an appointment. Alternatively, your GP or Health Visitor will do this for you if you ask them.
Click here to find your SLT department.
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