Local information and support
- Warwickshire's Speech and Language Pathway for Early Years brings together the organisations and provision available to support all children's speech, language and communication development.
- Time to Talk Warwickshire has information for families on what to expect at different ages and stages, advice on dummies, bilingual support and information videos. The site also lists the main organisations to contact for support.
- Speech and Language Therapy support children with difficulties communicating for example understanding instructions, communicating their needs and wants, producing speech sounds, eating, drinking and swallowing.
- Bookstart baby packs are given to families by the registrar during birth registration appointments. The pack has everything you need to start sharing stories, rhymes, and songs with your baby.
- Warwickshire Libraries for children and young adults provide a family-friendly environment with events for all ages including Rhyme Time for babies and Story Stomp for pre-schoolers. The library is free to join and has collections for all ages to encourage lifelong love of reading, including board books for babies, picture books, beginner reads, parents collections and much more.
Boost your child’s literacy through play with Family Learning
Family Learning is for parents, carers, and all the important adults in a child’s life. Some sessions include your child, others are just for you – all designed to help you support learning at home through fun, everyday family activities.
The fun, play-based courses help you to help your child’s learning, and Story Explorers, an evidence-based programme, specifically develops your child’s literacy skills, including early reading, early writing and early speech, language and communication.
Families love the practical ideas they take home - helping their children thrive through simple, everyday literacy activities. Courses are delivered by qualified teachers. They run throughout the year in Warwickshire Children and Family Centres, community venues, and some schools and early years settings.
View the Family Learning brochure (PDF, 431 KB) to see what’s on offer – and if there’s something you’d love to learn that’s not listed, just ask!
You can contact the team by emailing FamilyLearningACL@warwickshire.gov.uk or calling 01926 736392.
National information and support
- Speech and Language UK gives parents, carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If you are concerned about your child’s speech, language and communication, you can use the Progress Checker which allows you to review their progress. There is also a database of resources and FAQ factsheets.
- Words for Life has been designed to provide parents, children and young people with activities and support to improve their language, literacy, and communications skills from home.
- Better Health Start for Life has a dedicated section titled “Learning to talk” that provides videos, activities, tips, help and advice for children aged from 1 – 5 years.
- NSPCC Look Say Sing Play gives parents, carers and anyone looking after a child free tools to help them have higher quality interactions with their little ones. Their simple ideas, which fit into your daily routine, have a huge impact on their development right from birth.
- BBC Tiny Happy People can help you develop your child’s language and communication skills. Their ideas and activities are easy to build into your daily routine. They’re quick and inspiring, but they’re also based on expert advice and evidence, and are proven to help with your child’s development.