How I CAN Helps Practitioners
I CAN understands that to support children it has to support the professionals that work with them. I CAN provides a variety of services to best equip professionals with the skills they need to better identify, support and develop children’s communication skills.
The deterioration of children’s speech and language skills is one of the biggest child development issues in the
UK
. Support in the early years is necessary to ensure that children start school with the skills they need to help them learn and join in.
Early years staff feel ill-equipped to help children with speech and language difficulties, and especially children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Over 6
0
% of primary teachers say they lack confidence to meet children’s language needs. Many identify the emotional difficulties often associated with SLCN as particularly difficult to deal with.
Training and Workforce Development
I CAN provides training for health, education and social care practitioners who work with children and young people. Its training programmes deliver innovative approaches, knowledge and best practice to tackle the issues associated with SLCN as well as programmes to support the skills development of all children.
I CAN has a comprehensive professional development programme to meet the needs of practitioners who work with children. I CAN uses the experience of staff, many of whom work in direct service delivery, and associates who are experts in the field.
I CAN’s Early Talk programme provides training and professional development for early year’s practitioners to support all children’s communication and to identify and assist those who find communication hard through integrated therapy and educational approaches. 
Conferences
I CAN runs conferences aimed to inform, stimulate debate and share best practise on topics surrounding speech, language and communication skills, disability and development.
More information about I CAN conferences
Products and Information services
Talking Point is I CAN’s online one-stop-shop for professionals working with children and young people. It contains information, frequently asked questions and resources about the development of communication skills of all children and particularly children with SLCN.
www.talkingpoint.org.uk
The Communication Cookbook is a resource book of activities to support children's language and communication. If focuses on five essential ingredients that support children's communication skills, and contains simple recipes to help parents and teachers to develop these skills in children aged 4-6.
Moving up to pre-school is a big change for any child, and you play a vital role in helping your child to develop the speech and language skills they need. Ready Steady Talk is a fun-filled activity pack developed by I CAN’s speech and language specialists and comes highly recommended by early years professionals
Learning to Talk, Talking to Learn is a resource for early years practitioners. The resource includes tips and examples of how early years professionals can create communication-rich environments and turn every activity in their setting into a communication development opportunity.
I CAN Talk is a series of papers exploring contemporary issues, reviewing research, literature and practise in children’s SLCN. The I CAN Talk papers offer practical, evidence-based solutions to inform debate and to support policy-makers, parents and practitioners working with children’s communication. USe the links below to download PDFs of the papers.
Issue 1 - Communication Disability and Literacy Difficulties
Issue 2 - The Cost to the Nation of Children's Poor Communication
Issue 3 - The Cost to the Nation of Children's Poor Communication (Scotland Edition)
Issue 4 - Language and Social Exclusion
Issue 5 - Speech, Language and Communication and the Children's Workforce
Issue 6 - Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Primary School-aged Children
Targeting Talk is a unique online resource developed in partnership with Serco Education Services to provide primary school staff with the confidence, knowledge and tools to accurately assess and develop pupils’ speaking, listening and language skills and development.
Keep in Touch!
Register here for I CAN’s monthly email newsletter , which will keep you up to date with new activities and services.
Last modified: Oct 06 2008