Talking and understanding others is a really important part of life.
It helps us to learn new things, make friends and tell people how we feel. From being babies, hearing and listening to people talk helps our brains to grow. Did you know that 90 per cent of your child’s brain grows by the time they are 5 years old?
This is why these early years are so important and as a parent or carer, you have a big role in helping your child learn how to talk and understand others.
The more you talk, play, and listen to your child, the more they will learn and grow.
What support is available?
If you live in the borough of Rochdale and have concerns about your child’s speech, language and communication development, we have lots of local resources available to support you at home.
To make sure we can address your concerns as soon as possible, please make use of these helpful activities as much as you can. These activities have been created and collated by local speech and language therapists.
They are a self-service offer for those times when you feel you need a little more help.
Can-Do Whatsapp advice service
Through the use of WhatsApp, Can-Do provides an interactive advice service that is ready to answer questions you may have about your child’s speech, language and communication development.
Directly linked to local support, you'lll received tailored and relevant answers to your queries alongside useful tips and guidance to support you and your family at home.
Speech and language notice board
This virtual notice board, called a padlet, has lots of helpful information and fun ideas to help your child learn to talk and understand better. We want to help you make learning fun and easier at home. The padlet includes expert advice and guidance, activities and games, tips and strategies and useful education materials.
Talking Walk-in’s
Every week we hold daily ‘Talking Walk-in’ services across our Best Start Family Hubs. This is a drop-in event for you to come along to and speak directly to a speech and language therapist about the concerns you may have about your child’s talking.
Family hub sessions
If you would like more advice, reassurance and help to develop your child’s speech, language and communication skills, our Best Start Family Hubs offer a variety of different sessions to support you. This includes sessions such as Sing time, Elklan Let’s talk and Story Time.
Rochdale Speech, Language and Communication Pathway
Rochdale’s Speech, Language, and Communication Pathway is a tool for parents and practitioners providing a range of services and strategies available to children pre-birth to 5 years old.
Our speech, language and communication pathway aims to inform everyone involved about how we can support a child’s speech, language and communication.
We aim to make sure that;
- All children meet their language learning potential.
- Children can communicate their wants and needs.
- Children can learn and build relationships.
- Children can get the support they need at the right time from the right people.
- Information, training and resources about children’s speech, language and communication is available to everyone in one place.
View the Speech, Language, and Communication Pathway document