Speech, language and communication

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:

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

Hungry Little Minds

Simple, fun activities for kids from newborn to five.

Speech and Language UK

Great resources for parents including a guide for stages of language development and a poster to check progress.

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.

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. 

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.  

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.

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.