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Primary Talk is an evidence-informed, structured learning programme devised to develop the skills and practice of school practitioners in the vital area of children’s communication.
Primary Talk takes practitioners on a journey - from working with a child who is confident and capable communicator through to working with a child with severe and complex speech and language needs.
Primary Talk has four elements:
• Workforce development
• Support and mentoring
• Resources and information
• Quality assurance and accreditation.
Primary Talk is a flexible package available to local authorities, clusters or individual schools. It can be implemented on a needs basis with elements available individually or as a full package. It can be delivered directly or cascaded through designated trained staff.
Primary Talk is differentiated into three levels to suit the needs of different groups of users. This differentiation is consistent across the whole programme – training, support, advice and mentoring and accreditation or quality assurance.
Different levels of the programme relevant to different schools and Schools who want to access higher levels can start at the most appropriate place in the pyramid and build on this to achieve a higher level in future.
Level 1: ‘supportive/universal’ level. At this level information, training, mentoring and accreditation equips staff/ services with the skills needed to create communication friendly environments for all children and to be able to identify/ refer on children who are giving them cause for concern in SLC.
Level 2: ‘enhanced’ level. Staff and settings engaged at this level will build on the support they already offer to all children and in addition develop the skills and resources to target the needs of children with identified, mild and moderate SLCN.
Level 3: ‘specialist’ level. The programme at this level helps develop individuals and services that cater to the needs of children with severe and complex SLCN. There is an emphasis on significant differentiation of the curriculum and on developing functional communication. |
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I CAN Primary Talk has shown how speech, language and communication have a significant impact of the progress of a child’s social, academic ,emotional and dispositions and attitudes to school.
By being aware and understanding children’s speech and language development we are able to help support all children by ensuring that every child makes progress and achieves their own goals. |
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The Primary Talk Coordinator,
Bowlish Infants School |
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Primary Talk has been written and developed by I CAN in partnership with Somerset Local Authority and Somerset Total Communication. | |