Building Communication-Friendly Schools Across Our Cluster
The Coastal Collective is leading a three-year programme to strengthen speech, language and communication support across our cluster of primary schools.
The project begins with the implementation of OxEd LanguageScreen, enabling schools to screen children’s language development and identify needs at an early stage. All schools will receive specialist training, and children will be screened at key points to help track progress over time. A bespoke cluster-wide data dashboard will allow us to monitor trends, understand emerging needs and measure the impact of support across all participating schools.
To build lasting expertise within schools, two practitioners from each setting will complete ELKLAN’s Level 4 Lead Communication Practitioner training. This nationally recognised programme develops specialist knowledge and leadership skills, enabling practitioners to champion communication and language development within their own settings.
These Lead Communication Practitioners will then deliver Communication Counts training to colleagues working with children in Nursery and EYFS, embedding communication-friendly approaches throughout the school environment. Through this whole-school commitment, each setting will work towards achieving Communication Friendly Setting Status.
These Lead Communication Practitioners will then deliver Communication Counts training to colleagues working with children in Nursery and EYFS, embedding communication-friendly approaches throughout the school environment. Through this whole-school commitment, each setting will work towards achieving Communication Friendly Setting Status.
The project culminates in schools joining ELKLAN Gold, providing continued professional development and ongoing access to best practice in speech, language and communication support.
By combining early identification, specialist training and sustainable whole-school development, this project aims to ensure that more children develop the language and communication skills they need to thrive in school and beyond.
Project Aims:
- Early identification of speech, language and communication needs through regular LanguageScreen assessments.
- Specialist Level 4 ELKLAN-trained practitioners in every participating school
- Communication Counts training delivered to staff working with Nursery and EYFS children.
- Schools achieving Communication Friendly Setting Status.
- Ongoing professional development through ELKLAN Gold.
- Improved language and communication outcomes for children across the cluster.
This programme will help create a shared, evidence-based approach to supporting children’s communication and language development across all cluster schools.
