Case studies

The Hackney Early Interaction Project is a pilot project which has gathered and applied learning on how local services can best facilitate children’s early language development. The project has taken a deep dive in to one neighbourhood in the London Borough of Hackney, by mapping and building on the strengths of current local systems to enhance the universal and early language offer in the community. The Hackney Early Interaction project has been funded through the North-East London Integrated Commissioning Board (NEL ICB) Place Based Partnership from September 2022-March 2024.

City of York Council introduced a strategy in 2019 to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children with a focus on speech, language and communication. The Early Talk for York approach aims to improve outcomes for communication and language skills for children aged birth – five.

Wiltshire Council funded a 12 month project focusing on supporting 'hard to engage' fathers of children under the age of one, including unborn children.

Introduction 

In Herefordshire we knew that we had rising numbers of EY children with SEND. Our ambition was to have an Early Years SEND service that encompasses a holistic approach to the early identification, support of, provision for and placement of Early Years children with SEND.

Parents are children’s first teachers, but we know that many parents need support in this really important role if their child is to reach their full potential. The London Borough of Bexley are using the BBC’s Tiny Happy People (THP) resources universally across the Local Authority and with partners to share key messages and learning opportunities.

Ensuring children and families have access to support to enhance SLC development when a concern is raised is important. However, access to therapy services in Torbay is currently lengthy for families. Early timely support can enable children to ‘catch up’ with peers. A pathway of support has therefore been developed alongside Early Years Settings, Health Visitors and Children’s Centres.

The schools’ forum-funded Schools Support Partnership employs a Speech and Language Therapist working with Rutland Early Years settings, developing practitioners’ knowledge, understanding and confidence to support Speech Language and Communication skills.

North Tyneside Council's project to improve speech, language and communication in the early years of a child’s life has helped to reduce the gap between socio-economically disadvantaged children and their peers.

Staffordshire Libraries and Arts Service run a very successful annual Summer Reading Challenge. Early Years practitioners in Staffordshire reported a negative impact on the development of early speech and language as a result of the pandemic. The Mini Summer Reading Challenge seemed an ideal programme to support parents and settings with early speech and language in the home learning environment.