How your child communicates is really important for their life, including school, jobs, and friendships.
Babies and pre-school
Parents and carers play the most important part in helping their child’s communication and talking in everyday life.
Children learn through daily life, play, and reading together.
Please try to reduce the time you spend looking at your phone or tablet whilst with a baby or young child.
How you look at, read with, speak and react to the world with your child helps them to develop.
Help
Greater Manchester (GM) 10 Tips for Talking
The Greater Manchester (GM) 10 Tips for Talking are ten key messages to support the development of language and communication skills for babies and young children and can be used by everyone:
- Greater Manchester Top Ten Tips for Talking - GMCA website
50 things to do before you're five
Exciting activities for families in Oldham with young children, giving them great suggestions for how to have fun and learn at the same time:
Oldham language skills guide
Tips to help your child learn to talk and develop their communication skills.
Tiny Happy People
Tips and videos about language and bonding
- Tiny Happy People - BBC website
Hungry Little Minds
Simple, fun activities for kids from newborn to five.
- Hungry Little Minds - GOV.UK website
Speech and Language UK
Great resources for parents including a guide for stages of language development and a poster to check progress.
- Ages and Stages - Speech and Language UK website
- Chatter Matters Baby Progress poster (PDF) - Speech and Language UK website
- Chatter Matters for Toddlers poster (PDF) - Speech and Language UK website
- Chatter Matters Pre-school poster (PDF) - Speech and Language UK website
Stammering
If you would like more information about stammering, the Stamma website offers advice and support
Concerns
If your child attends an early years setting, have a chat with their key worker about your concerns.
They are there to help and support your child and work together in partnership with families to develop an action plan using the WellComm toolkit.
- WellComm toolkit - GL Assessment website
If your child does not attend a setting, or you have any concerns about your child’s speech, language, and communication development, you can also speak to the Right Start Team at one of your local Family Hubs or Children's Centres:
Primary school
As your child begins their journey through primary school they will continue to develop their understanding of longer instructions and questions.
They will use more complex vocabulary, longer sentences, and stories, develop more speech sounds and extend their conversation skills.
Take the opportunity to read together.
Help
Speech and Language UK
Great resources for parents including a guide for stages of language development.
- Ages and Stages - Speech and Language UK website
Stammering
If you would like more information about stammering, the Stamma website offers advice and support::
Concerns
If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, please speak to their class teacher or the SENCo.
You can work together to decide the best next steps for your child.
For confidential advice you can also text Oldham ChatHealth on 07507 330499.
The Oldham Speech and Language Therapy Service works with families, schools, and teachers.
- Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service - NHS website
This service is for children who need a higher level of support.
Secondary school
Language development in secondary years is more gradual.
Your young person will use language to solve more complex problems and develop a wider vocabulary.
They will explain more complex ideas and use language socially in a more sophisticated way.
Your young person’s form tutor or the school’s SENCo will be able to discuss any concerns you have.
Help
Speech and Language UK
Great resources for parents including a guide for stages of language development.
- Ages and Stages - Speech and Language UK website
Stammering
If you would like more information about stammering, the Stamma website offers advice and support:
I CAN have great resources for parents including a guide to stages of language development in 11-17-year-olds and a poster to check progress.
Concerns
For confidential advice you can also text Oldham ChatHealth on 07507 330499.
The Oldham Speech and Language Therapy Service works with families, schools, and teachers.
- Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service - NHS website