Resources to help your child speak, listen and learn

Auditory processing

Auditory processing is essential in the development of language skills.

Babbling and baby talk

Your baby will start learning how to communicate as soon as they’re born.

Basic communication strategies

Everyone involved in a child’s life can play a part in developing communication skills.

Deafness and hearing loss

Deafness can be a permanent or temporary condition, and can be caused by a range of factors.

English as an additional language

All over the world millions of people are brought up to speak two or more languages.

Expressive language

Expressive language is the way we put words together into phrases and sentences to express meaning.

Grammar

Grammar is the name given to our rules of language and how we structure it.

Helping children with unclear speech

It’s important to respond to what the child says, not to how clearly they speak.

Listening and attention at school

Listening and attention are skills that have to be developed, much like walking and talking.

Sequencing and narrative skills

Sequencing is the ability to put ideas into the right chronological order.

Social communication (pragmatics)

Pragmatics describes the way we understand and use language and communication.

Speech development

Concerns with your child's speech, such as difficulty with pronunciation or understanding.

Speech sounds

Speech is a series of sounds which are used together to form words and sentences.

Stammering advice

Many young children will often stop, start again, and stumble over words while they’re learning.

Steps to talking

Children usually take similar steps in building up their vocabulary.

Toddler talk

Children learn language best from the people around them talking.

Typical speech sound development

Children develop speech sounds over time, with words gradually sounding more like the adult version.

Understanding language

Understanding and processing language is the ability to understand the words.

Vocabulary

Our vocabulary is made up of words that we understand and can use in a correct and meaningful way.

Overview

Your baby will start learning about language and how to communicate as soon as they’re born. They’ll listen to you and learn from your tone, facial expressions, body language and daily experiences before they start copying noises and, eventually, speaking simple words. From there, speech will develop, explore tips and information on language and development.

Early language development workshops

Our team run online workshops on early language development. They are designed for parents and carers and those working within early years settings. We have three training sessions available on different topics to equip you with everyday strategies to support your child, aged up to five. 

Speech and language therapy enquiries line

If your child is not known to the service and you would like some advice from your local early years’ speech and language therapy team (for pre-school children), please contact our team for advice and support on 0118 904 3700 between 9am-3.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Support

If something doesn’t feel quite right, maybe there are changes in eating, behaviour, or general health. It’s always a good idea to speak to your GP or health visitor.

Some schools have a nursing team, and they can offer support if needed.

Once you’ve talked things through, you’ll be pointed in the right direction. Sometimes extra help is needed, and one of our services might be the next step.

You can find more information about those services below.