Learning and Development
Communication and Language
The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage - Educational Programme for Communication & Language sets out activities and experiences that must be provided for children from birth to five.
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Resources to support the Communication and Language curriculum
- Bolton's Communication and Language Pathway
- Tips to promote communication and language development
- Five Golden Rules
- Routine cards to share with parents to support the home learning environment
- Language Through Listening | E-learning
- Speech and Language UK resources
- Early years: resources and tools for early language development and parental engagement | National Literacy Trust
- Early language and communication development support for families at home chat play read booklet | National Literacy Trust
- Activities walk and talk trail | Words for Life
- Better Health Start for Life – Little Moments Together - YouTube NEW!
- Little Moments Together Cards | Words for Life NEW!
- Speech Sounds Fact Sheet from I CAN
- Communication and language - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
- Ofsted short webinars: Early years curriculum - a focus on communication and language
Using Blank Level Questions
- Find out more about Blank Level Questions from Twinkl
- Blank Level Questions Linked to Start Well Stories Find out more about the Start Well Stories
- Using Blank Level Questions with other books
Blank is a concept that people tend to need some support and training to fully understand. Elklan training is the ideal way to fully understand the concept. Bolton EYCLDS offer Elklan training annually, get in touch to find out more or keep an eye on the course booking page for more information.
Communication friendly environment resources
- Bolton Communication Friendly Environments - Setting Audit
- Communication and Language Hot / Cold Spots
- ECAT Supporting Communication in the Environment
- Communication Classroom Supporting Observation Tool (Speech and Language UK)
Screen time resources
- Bolton Top Tips: screen time
- Internet Matters: balancing screen time, top tips to support children in early years (0-5)
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: the health impacts of screentime, guide for clinicians and parents
- Screen Time: EAD Children and Screen Infant-Cognitive-Development at a glance NEW!
Quality interaction resources
- Bolton guidance for observing quality interactions in your early years setting
- Interaction observation with young children - Bolton recording template
- Interaction observation with older children - Bolton recording template
- ECAT Adult/child interaction evaluation
- Interactions - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
- The ShREC approach - Four evidence informed strategies to promote high quality interactions EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)
- ShREC poster - Listening to children and having conversations with them
Supporting bilingual and multilingual children and families
- EAL provider training - October 2024 or February 2025
- English as an additional language (EAL) - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
- Talk Together guides
- Working with children who have English as an Additional Language information guide
- Supporting Children Learning English as an Additional Language - Reflective Audit
- Guidance for supporting children learning English as an additional language (taken from Bolton's Communication and Language Journey)
- Early language and communication development support for families at home chat play read booklet | National Literacy Trust Available in 18 languages.
- Activities walk and talk trail | Words for Life Available in 18 languages.
Other useful information
- The Early Communication and Language Journey
- Dummy Use Fact Sheet
- Ideas from Communnication Champions to share with parents regarding dummy use
- NHS Play Skills Top Tips