Communication offer for young people - pregnancy to school age

All children and young people are entitled to

• Access to good communication environments
• Expectant parents to have access to ante-natal programmes
• Brazelton Newborn Observation Techniques offered universally at first or second new-born Health Visitor contacts -up to 3 months of age
• Eight visits offered under the enhanced Health visitor model and universal plus offer on a needs led basis
• WellComm screening at at 9 to 12 month, 2 to 2.5 years and 3 to 3.5 year development check
• Ages and stages questionnaire
• Access to a GP
• Consistent tracking system to plot speech, language and communication progress and to provide: early identification; intervention for those with speech, language and communication delay; challenge and progress for those performing as or above expected
• Knowledgeable parents and practitioners aware of their role in supporting speech, language and communication development and working together in partnership
• Practitioners who create a language rich environment, which provides language learning opportunities and interactions in daily activities
• Baseline assessment on entry to and early years foundation stage assessment at the end of reception
• NHS telephone advice service short appointments

Some children and young people may need

• Identification of where babies are not meeting age-related expectations
• Identification of attachment/early intervention issues between parents and young babies
• Speech and language home visiting service
• Access to speech, language and communication advice and programme of support through settings and community or home based intervention
• Access to appropriate interventions to provide a short-term boost to language learning delivered by appropriately trained members of staff
• Practitioners to have access to key messages promoting positive interaction from the early years team, Communicate CIC and Better Start 

A few children and young people may need

• Access to specialist provision such as NHS, Blenheim and/or Portage
• Referral to specialist health visitor for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health
• Referral to specialist health visitor for Parents and Infant Relationship Service (PAIRS)
• Referral for a Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale up to 2 months of age, with the Specialist Health Visitor with video interactive guidance
• Access to a speech and language therapist who can assess, provide advice and guidance and, where appropriate, intervention to the child
• Identified members of staff who can support speech and language programmes in the setting (if required) following the advice and guidance of the speech and language therapist
• Involvement of early years SEND advisory teacher around complex speech, language and communication needs/social communication difficulties