Practitioners are concerned that many children have poor language skills and that their learning is being hindered and delayed because of it.

Young children need a rich and playful environment to develop their emerging communication skills and much of they language they learn is a reflection of the adult models to which they are exposed.

Developing high quality language provision requires that practitioners give young children a stimulating environment in which they can experiment and develop their early communication skills and excite and motivate them to extend their competencies.

It is vital that early language and communication development is supported and nurtured in the home as well as in educational settings, therefore the practitioner also needs the skills and confidence to work alongside parents and carers.

This day course will look at the ways in which practitioners can help to expand and scaffold children’s language development, including:

• How children learn language in social context and how these can be facilitated indoors and out
• Understanding the social and emotional aspects of language and communication development in young children
• Ways of developing stimulating and comfortable communication environments both inside and out
• Creating stimulating environments for babies and toddlers
• Ways of working with parents and carers
• Making resource boxes for the setting and resource materials for parents to use at home
• Using stories and storytelling to help children acquire language through active participation
• How storytelling can be an effective bridge to emergent literacy