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What is the role of a speech therapist in the Early Years? Speech therapists support children in a range of ways to develop their speech, language and communication skills. Therapists work as part of a multi agency team around a child, supporting them alongside their family and their setting. Children who have communication difficulties or … [Read more...] about Speech therapists in the Early Years

What are the main reasons a child may experience language delay?   Language delay is widely recognised in the early years sector with over one million children in the UK experiencing some difficulty with communication and language development. This can be due to a variety of reasons, some of which can be easily recognised and dealt … [Read more...] about Top 5 reasons for language delay in children

How is speech delay observed in preschool aged children?   Speech delay is a hot topic amongst parents, with some fearing the worst if their child is not talking as much or as clearly as they would like prior to starting school. It is important not to put pressure on a child or label them with speech delay too early as this can cause … [Read more...] about Can speech delay be diagnosed prior to school?

Try our 7 top tips in dealing with children's challenging behaviour Challenging behaviour in children can be presented in many ways such as biting, hitting or refusal to carry out instructions. Children often display challenging behaviour for a variety of reasons. Life changes such as a new baby in the family or parents splitting up can impact on … [Read more...] about 7 Top Tips on dealing with challenging behaviour

 Factors to consider why a child may not be talking There are many factors that may contribute to why children don't talk, therefore, it is important that practitioners are aware of these factors and shouldn't measure children's development against others. All children should be treated as individuals and if practitioners have a concern over a … [Read more...] about Why a child may not be talking

Supporting children who have selective mutism Some children may be reluctant to talk in certain situations, practitioners need to understand that children aren't being awkward it may be that they displaying selective mutism. For children this anxiety disorder is very much like having a phobia, supporting children through this can help them … [Read more...] about What is selective mutism?

Speech and language delay in children can have added pressure on parents. What can nurseries do to help support them? Children that attend early years settings can often need additional support in particular areas of their development. Speech and Language development is fundamental in ensuring children are able to communicate their needs and … [Read more...] about Supporting parents through the Speech and Language referral process

 What should you do if a parent asks you if their child has autism? Autism affects how people communicate with others; they find it difficult to form relationships with others and can have difficulty in making senses of the world around them. There are many different forms of autism that require specialists to make that diagnosis. For those … [Read more...] about Understanding Autism