AMAZING COMMUNICATORS

Amazing Communicators

The Bristol Standard Development Group was pleased to work in collaboration with St Paul’s Children’s Centre and Teaching School to write the Amazing Communicator’s supplement. This follows the courses that ran at the teaching school during 2016. The booklet can be used in conjunction with your current submission to support in-depth reflection in Dimensions 2, 3 and 5 or can be used as a separate focus in your Interim 2 year. If you would like further advice on how to use the materials please contact Nicky Bale 

Bristol’s longstanding commitment to improving outcomes for children and reducing inequality recognises the critical importance of building relationships and creating environments where children’s speech, language and communication can flourish.

Nationally and locally there is evidence that many children are experiencing delayed communication and language development and start school finding it difficult to express themselves clearly and confidently. This not only limits their ability to access the whole world of learning but can also affect their ability to make friends and gain a positive sense of identity.

There is a growing body of research that demonstrates the relationship between oral fluency and vocabulary size in the early years and later life-long learning, including the development of reading and skills. This section of the website will focus on the importance of early communication, language and literacy, signposting research articles and capturing examples of outstanding practice.

Image copyright David Amster – License information

We believe that communication is the foundation for language and literacy.  Children are sensitive and enthusiastic communicators from birth and this early ability to communicate verbally and non-verbally is the basis on which language is developed.

As adults supporting these young learners, we need to tune into them.  Our approaches consider children from birth to KS1 and supports practitioners to develop quality provision that inspires all children to fulfil their potential as confident listeners, thinkers, talkers, readers and writers.

“Literacy floats on a sea of talk” Britton 1970

Nicola Theobald, Lead for Early Years Partnerships
Kate Hubble, Early Years Improvement Officer
Kate Irvine, Early Years Improvement Officer, Early Years Consultant
Beth Osborne, Early Years Consultant
Ali Carrington, Early Years Consultant