A Speech, Language and Communication Friendly School

At Christ the King, our staff are dedicated to nurturing the gifts of every child and preparing them for life beyond our school. Integral to this mission is our commitment to ensuring all pupils, regardless of their starting points or needs, are supported to develop strong communication skills.

ELKLAN Accredited Communication Friendly Setting

Christ the King is proud to be an accredited Communication Friendly Setting, recognised by the prestigious ELKLAN award. This accreditation shows that our staff have been extensively trained in supporting speech, language and communication development across our school.

Embedding Communication Support

Our two Lead Communication Practitioners, qualified at Level 4, and two support staff trained at Level 3, have delivered comprehensive training sessions to all staff, including The Lead Communication Practitioners deliver the Communication Counts course to all the staff, including administrative staff and lunchtime staff.

These sessions have covered key areas such as:

• Communication Steps
• Creating a Communication Friendly Setting
• Developing symbolic understanding and its link to language
• Using objects, pictures, signs, and symbols effectively
• Providing the right 'Means, Reasons and Opportunities' for communication

This investment in staff development ensures that strategies to support speech, language and communication are embedded throughout our school, benefiting all children, and especially those with identified needs. You can find out more by visiting the ELKLAN website here.

Targeted Interventions and Resources

In addition to our whole-school approach, we also deliver targeted interventions to individuals and small groups.

These include:

• WellComm Screening and Intervention in Nursery
• NELI (Nuffield Early Language Intervention) in Reception

To learn more about our use of NELI and WellComm, you can find details here and here.  

We utilise Widgit Symbols across the school, empowering all our children to express themselves and aiding comprehension through the use of visual cues. Although these are designed to cater to those with communication difficulties, we believe that using these across school enhances an inclusive learning environment for all, while promoting meaningful interactions. Find out more here.

 'More Than Talk' Speech and Language Therapy Services

To enhance our efforts in developing our children’s expressive and communication skills, we have partnered with More Than Talk Speech and Language Therapy Services, an independent service that delivers tailored speech and language therapy (SALT).

More Than Talk offers a bespoke service designed to meet the unique needs of our school and its pupils. Their expert therapists work closely with our staff to implement effective strategies that cater to individual requirements, ensuring that every pupil receives the support they need to thrive.

More than Talk has some excellent YouTube tutorials, which you can view here.

Talk for Writing

Across EYFS and Key Stage One, we integrate Talk for Writing into our communication-friendly approach to enhance children' writing skills by embedding oral language development in the writing process. Here’s how you can incorporate it:

Our Talk for Writing strategies enable our children to articulate their thoughts and ideas effectively before putting pen to paper.

Benefits of Talk for Writing:

• Encourages high-quality oral language development, which is essential for writing proficiency.
• Supports children in understanding the features of different text types, enhancing their ability to write across the curriculum.
• Promotes collaboration and communication among children, allowing them to learn from one another and build confidence in their writing skills.

Talk for Writing is a vital component of our approach to developing communication skills and writing proficiency. By fostering an environment where children can express themselves verbally before translating their ideas into written form, we empower them to become increasingly confident communicators and more proficient writers.

For more information on "Talk for Writing," you can visit the official website here.

 Promoting Oracy and Inclusion

Underpinning our communication-friendly approach is our strong emphasis on oracy and the use of subject-specific language. We believe that equipping our children with the ability to articulate their thoughts, ideas and emotions confidently is crucial for their future success.

By fostering an inclusive environment where communication needs are understood and supported, we seek to ensure that every child is empowered to reach their full potential.

If you'd like any further information on how Christ the King supports our children's communication, please contact Mrs Holroyd (Assistant Headteacher/ SENDCo) via the School Office.