Start Talking Together: Practitioner's Page

Find speech language and communication needs information for practitioners working in Early Years.

Nottinghamshire Best Start for life offer

We know that giving children the best start in life is a fundamental part of improving health and reducing inequalities. The earliest years of a child’s life have a significant impact on their long-term development and their life chances.

To assist families in understanding the support and services available from early pregnancy until two years old, we have developed the Nottinghamshire Best Start in Llfe offer covering the first 1001 days of their child's life.

Find out more, go to Nottinghamshire Best Start for life offer.

The Best Start Strategic Partnership Group in Nottinghamshire is committed to giving children the best start in life.

To learn more about the strategy go to Best Start Strategy (Nottinghamshire County Council)

Further information on the approach to Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) services in Nottinghamshire can be found on Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication (Nottinghamshire Insight)

Home Talk

Nottinghamshire County Council commission Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust to deliver Home Talk. This is an evidence-based programme for 2 to 2 and a half year olds and their families. Families can be referred for support by Healthy Families Teams and early years settings (including schools) with the consent of the family.

Find out what you can expect from the Home Talk programme, in this 3-mintue video

Home Talk referral

To find out about referrals and to access the referral form go to the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service (Nottinghamshire Healthcare)

Pathway to referral

View the Speech, Language and Communications Needs pathway for two year olds [PDF]

Activities to try at home

Here are some links to activities to try with the children in nursery but also please do share with parents for them to try at home

Language for Life

Language for Life is Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust's approach to developing children's speech, language and communication skills. It includes information on:

How parents can help
Getting the right support
Suggested activiites to try
Checkpoint of ages and stages of development
Resources for professionals

To learn more visit Language for Life (Nottinghamshire Heathcare Trust) to

CBeebies Parenting

The BBC have a range of topics and resources in for parents and professionals incuding:

Activities for babies, toddlers and children
Tips and advice
Child development
Parenting life
Resources for professionals

To learn more visit CBeebies Parenting (BBC)

Learning to talk - NHS Best Start in Life

NHS website with ideas and information for young children on learning to talk at differnt ages:

To learn more visit

Chat, Play, Read - The National Literacy Trust

The National Literacy Trust have produced a Chat, Play, Read interactivity Booklet. This is free to download and available in different languages. It is filled with fun and simple activities to support children to learn new words and develop their language and communication skills.

Find out which languages are available and download the Chat, Play, Read booklets (Words for Life)

National Literacy Trust also have resources and tools for early language development and parental engagement.

To learn more visit Early years programmes from the National Literacy Trust

Resources on our Virtual Family Hub

Home Learning resources on our Virtual Family Hub can be found at Things to do at home

The following resources are also useful for using with families:

Low cost and no cost play ideas, play at home booklet [PDF]
Outdoor fun activities [PDF]
Colourful booklet from Language for Life with 14 of the most popular nursery rhymes Sing songs and rhymes with me (Language for Life) [PDF]

Education Support Service

The East Midland Education Support Service has collated Speech, Language and Communication resources for use by Schools and Early Years settings.

To learn more visit Speech, Language and Communication (East Midlands Education Support Service)

Communication Friendly Spaces

A Communication Friendly space encourages and promotes good communication, supports speaking and listening skills, emotional well-being, physical development and how a child engages with children and adults.

Elizabeth Jarman, a leading expert on learning environments, is the creator of Communication Friendly Spaces. You can read more about Elizabeth Jarmans at www.elizabethjarman.com

Find out about Creating a communication supportive environment: Early years (Speech and Language UK)

Speech and Language UK

The children’s communication charity Speech and Language UK provide support to parents and carers, and practitioners in helping children develop their speech, language and communication skills. Use their online Progress Checker to see how a child is getting on with their speech, language and communication development, there are also free resources

Find this and more free resources and services on their Help for families webpage

Additional resources

Bookstart

Find out about BookTrust's Bookstart for Families scheme that helps and supports families to nuture a love of reading for children aged 0 to 5 years.

To learn more visit Bookstart for Families (BookTrust)

Inspire Culture, Learning and Libraries

If you are a registered childminder or the leader of a nursery, playgroup or a parent and toddler group, you can borrow up to 36 items at a time. There are no fines or charges for damaged items and books can be borrowed for periods of up to 12 weeks.

Groups can also arrange to visit the library. To organise a trip and to find your local library visit Our Libraries (Inspire Culture and Learning)

Family Hub Networks

Nottinghamshire Family Hub Networks aim to join up local services for children and families, providing a ‘front door’ so that families can get the help that they need. Getting the right support at the right time, in the right place. Family hubs aim to make a positive difference to children, young people and their families.

To Learn more visit Family Hub Networks (Nottinghamshire County Council)

Early Childhood Services

Early Years and Family Hubs Service
Find out more about the early years and childcare sector, training and Family Hubs at

A providers web page with advice, guidance and resources is also available from Early Childhood Services, to get access to this page email: earlychildhoodservices@nottscc.gov.uk

Healthy Family Team

Healthy Family Teams are part of the Healthy Families Programme. Specialist Public Health Practitioners and their teams, who used to be known as Health Visitors and School Nurses, provide support to all families living in Nottinghamshire with a child aged between 0 and 19 years.

Find more contact details for various services the team cover at

Call for free on 0300 123 5436

Nottinghamshire Healthcare Speech and Language Advice Line

For parents and carers of children aged 0 to 19 years and for young pople aged 16 to 19.

Call: 0300 123 3387 OPTION 1

Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City (except Bassetlaw)
Monday and Tuesday 9.30am to 4.30pm
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9am to 12.30pm

Specialist speech and language therapy services

Children's Speech and Language Therapy , information for professionals (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)

Children’s Speech & Language Therapy Service (Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital)

Talking and communication drop ins

Come along to one of our early years drop-in sessions for children under 4 years old if you'd like to talk with us about your child's talking and communication.

No need to book! Just pick a date and come along with your child at any time during the session.

Visit Speech, Language and Communication Early Years Parents and Carers Drop In sessions (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)