Early Communication Toolkit
So you can feel confident helping all children be heard.
The toolkit can be used to support any child using sentences that are five words long or less or:
Yes. This tool will give you the starting point to help a child with these diagnoses. It is not a substitute for supporting the family to engage in early intervention therapies though.
Yes. The questions are all based on the child's abilities and the strategies will help them take their next step in communication. They don't need to have any diagnosis.
Yes. All of the recommended strategies promote child-led interactions that can take place in small groups or in short 1:1 conversations, e.g. during a nappy change. Examples thoughout speed session explainer clips are based in the early learning environment.
Yes. Often it is a particular combination of strategies that will support a particular child. Every child is unique in their temperament, what they understand, how they express their ideas and more. Every educator is also unique in how they interact with children. This is what a speech pathologist visiting your service would look at when they make suggestions around strategies that could help.
You will answer a few questions about the child's communication.
Based on your responses, the most appropriate combination of strategies will be suggested that will help the child take THEIR next step with communicating.
The toolkit should not replace the child seeing a speech pathologist if there are communication delays, however these strategies can be used in the interim.
Only $9 per month. You can cancel anytime. Our goal is to offer you really affordable professional development and help you see positive change in interactions with children needing a bit more support with their communication skills. We don't want you to have to wait to get this support.
You receive them immediately. As soon as you have completed the survey you can get started learning the first strategy to help a child.
Yes. This is the part of the toolkit where you will learn new information and be guided to achieve the positive and language building outcomes you are looking for. Each part of the process has a role:
Explainer clips - these will break down the strategy and how it applies to the particular type of child you are supporting.
Plans -these will help set you up for success by making sure you've thought through the optimal experience, time of day and language to use.
Reflections - these will teach you ways to adjust the strategy to support the individual child based on what you've noticed once you start using the strategy.
Many of the strategies might seem common sense or obvious initially. But it is HOW the strategies are implemented that will allow you to improve interactions and the child's learning and participation.
There are audio and written help guides in each of the questions so that you can accurately answer each question and receive the ideal strategies to help the child you want to support.
It depends on the child.
The communication strategies recommended are based on your observations of how the child communicates with YOU.
If the child communicates in the same way with your colleague, then the same strategies would apply. If for example, the child is confident interacting with you, but doesn't speak with your colleague, then the toolkit would recommend different strategies for your colleague.
As many times as you like. If there are 5 children you'd like to support, you can complete the questionnaire 5 times and get tailored strategies based on each child's communication style, abilities and goals.
For each child you complete the survey for, there is up to 2 hours of professional learning. This works best if completed over 4-8 weeks rather than completing it all in one go.
The 2 hours is made up of the initial observation (5-10 minutes), explainer clips (25 minutes), 4 step plans (40minutes) and guided reflections (40minutes).
It depends what you are looking for. The toolkit is best if you:
No. This is not a replacement for speech therapy, but there many children who may not be engaged with a speech therapist yet and it takes time and money for this to happen. In the meantime, you can get started with these strategies. The toolkit will also make suggestions around . For example has their hearing been checked?
No. You can sign up for a month or two, learn what you need to support a child and then cancel if you feel you have the information you need.