So, chatter really does matter (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

So, chatter really does matter

5:37pm Tuesday 5th May 2009 in

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Teaching young children to talk is imperative to their development.

Conversation is a life skill – the foundation for friendships, relationships and learning. Hearing your child speak their first words is an unforgettable moment for parents and carers. For the child, it is the first phase in developing a skill for life.

Talking is an essential social skill, and it is for this reason that childcare experts will be bringing their roadshow to Bradford to make us all aware of the importance of ‘Making Chatter Matter’.

Children’s communication charity I CAN and campaigning partner Openreach, a BT Group Business, are collaborating in the event to raise awareness of the importance of developing children’s speech, language and communication skills.

Families will be encouraged to add their favourite words to a giant wall of words at the event, being held at Kirkgate Shopping Centre on Saturday.

Yeadon mum Vicki Gilbert, from Babies Can Sign – an organisation teaching sign language to hearing babies to aid their speech – will be demonstrating toddler signing classes, and Sue Dyde, from Allerton Children’s Centre, will provide creative music, dance and drama.

A speech and language therapist will offer expert advice on children’s communication development, and there will be fun activities such as magic and face painting.

Jill Atkinson, I CAN spokesman, says: “Communication skills are the bedrock learning skills for the 21st century. The ability to understand and use words effectively is fundamental to making friends, building relationships and learning.

“We take great pleasure in joining with Bradford Early Years and Childcare Service to address the speech, language and communication needs of children in Bradford. Without early intervention to address communication needs, children may be held back at school, in the playground and in life unless their needs are met and identified.”

I CAN and Openreach have collaborated on a range of resources for families on how to support children’s speech, language and communication development, including the Chatter Matters DVD, presented by Dr Tanya Byron, and Ready, Steady, Talk!, a fun activity book designed to get children ready for pre-school.

These resources will be handed out free to parents, families and nursery workers as part of a communication goodie pack.

Carole Chaney, events manager for Openreach, says: “Chatter matters for each and every child in Bradford and beyond. Openreach is pleased to be able to support the Make Chatter Matter in Bradford campaign because, quite simply, children who find communication hard, find life hard.

“We have worked with I CAN to develop a range of communication resources for families so that we can help all children become successful communicators.”

Vicki adds: “I am delighted to work with I CAN at the Make Chatter Matter roadshow. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to demonstrate our unique way of developing children’s communication.

“Our classes across Bradford inspire parents to really think about the importance of developing communication skills – highlighting the synergy we share with I CAN. Babies Can Sign are proud to support I CAN through our local network.”

The roadshow is a continuation of the work already taking place in the city highlighting the importance of encouraging communication.

Early Talk – I CAN’s flagship programme for nurseries – has accredited 28 settings in the area, with a further 20 settings due for accreditation. More than 340 practitioners have been trained in Bradford, and a group of childminders in the area became the first in the country to receive I CAN’s accreditation.

Bradford was also one of the first UK regions to pilot I CAN’s Primary Talk programme in 27 schools, in partnership with Education Bradford.

Primary Talk is a unique, whole-school approach giving staff skills to understand the importance of language throughout the whole curriculum. Due to its success, Education Bradford is planning to introduce Primary Talk to even more schools in the area to ensure more school-aged children have the communication skills they need for life.

Laura Smith, roadshow co-ordinator, says that over the past three years they have been lobbying the Government to ensure communication is embedded at the heart of children’s policy.

The roadshows being organised through the Make Chatter Matter campaign aim to increase awareness of the importance of developing children’s communications skills, especially in those early years.

Recent evidence shows in socially-deprived areas upwards of 50 per cent of children are arriving at primary school without the speech and language skills they need to learn, achieve and make friends. With early intervention, most of these children can ‘catch up’ to their peers.

I CAN estimates that ten per cent of children have speech, language and communication needs either as their primary disability or as part of another condition such as autism, cerebral palsy or dyslexia. That is an average of three in every classroom.

Laura says Bradford was chosen as one of the cities to visit because of the social deprivation which exists here. “Bradford is in the top ten per cent of the most deprived authorities nationally. We also know there is the highest rate of Neets (Not in Education, Employment or Training) in Bradford,” she says.

“The other reason is we have been working in Bradford for some time. It is a really key area for us because I CAN don’t just want to come in and disappear. We want to make a difference and leave a legacy.”

* The event runs from 9.30am to 5.30pm. For more details go to ican.org.uk.