Lessons in listening thanks to Uttoxeter speech expert

Language expert Libby Hill has been working with three Staffordshire nurseries to pioneer a programme aimed at helping young children improve their learning skills.

Libby, director of Uttoxeter-based Small Talk, carried out sessions with youngsters from Horn End nurseries in Stafford, Hixon and Rugeley, to help develop skills essential to starting school.

She believes the programme - which was developed thanks to funding in Staffordshire – is more important than ever now, following a report which highlighted serious communications issues in young school pupils.

The Bercow Report found that at least two pupils in every primary school class – rising to almost half the class in areas of social deprivation – are currently struggling to learn properly due to problems with basic skills such as listening and following instructions.

Language Land was designed to be used by speech and language therapists as a training package for teachers, and was developed through funding by Newcastle-Under-Lyme NHS PCT and Staffordshire LEA.

It provides a complete programme to help speech and language skills of all children in primary and nursery education, not just those with identified problems.

“The programme was trialled extensively and successfully in Newcastle, but I could find no evidence that anyone had used the nursery component of the programme,” said Libby. “It seemed obvious to me that starting this kind of learning as early as possible ie before school, makes a great deal of sense.

“Listening is a common problem in children these days. It is not a skill you acquire but one you learn.

“I know how proactive the Horn End nurseries are, as my two sons went there, and they jumped at the chance to try something new and innovative.”

Libby, a speech and language therapist, assessed the children first, to see what level they were at, before going on to deliver the programme over a number of weeks, in 40 minute sessions.

Nursery staff received their training by observing her in action.

“I went through what I intended to do with the staff before starting, and then during sessions I would constantly be saying things like ‘I am doing this because’ and ‘did you notice how they did that’ so that they could see how to do it themselves at the end of the programme.

“I was delighted with the results and the feedback. There were difficulties in all the nurseries, as per national standards, but there was a noticeable increase in attention by the end of the programme.

“The children could sit still for longer, pay attention for longer, and their listening skills improved - all these things are essential for children starting school to be able to learn effectively.”

Deborah Falshaw, owner of Horn End Nurseries, and a former teacher and Early Years Professional, said she had been impressed with the Language Land programme, and felt it would be a great benefit for both staff and children.

“I believe communication and language skills are the key to all learning, and our nurseries promote good communications through encouraging speaking, listening, early reading and emergent writing,” she explained.

“We are keen to ensure our fully qualified staff receive ongoing training to improve their skills, and Language Land offered this, along with additional benefits for children and parents.

“We certainly saw an improvement in the children’s concentration and listening skills.”

Libby is now in the process of writing up her findings for Bulletin, the professional paper of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and preparing to deliver the programme to more schools and nurseries in the area.

“All nurseries, reception and year one classes would benefit from this – most will have at least two children with problems, some with more.

“Schools now have a mandate from the Government , following the Bercow report, to be very aware of speech, language and communication issues, and the earlier the problems are tackled, the more chance there is of success,” she said.

To find out more, visit Small Talk's website www.smalltalk-ltd.co.uk