Bespoke consultancy to address the speaking and listening difficulties faced by today's children.

Elklan Courses

Elklan courses provide high-quality training and resources, enabling practitioners to be more effective in their support of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Many of the strategies and skills learnt on the courses are applicable to mainstream children too, encouraging more effective speaking, listening and group interaction skills.

Clare is a qualified and experienced Elklan tutor, and delivers the 10 week, (20 hours) ‘Speech and Language Support 5-11’s’ and ‘Speech and Language Support Under 5’s’. Both courses are accredited through Open College Network at either Level 2 or 3.

Who is it for?

Both Elklan courses are designed for teachers and teaching assistants to work more effectively around Speech, Language and Communication (SLC) with all children, but particularly to become more aware of children with SLCN and how to support them.

Who delivers it?

Primary practitioners working with children in primary schools, specialist units and schools supporting children with moderate learning difficulties.

How is it delivered?

The Elklan courses are designed to up-skill primary practitioners (teachers and teaching assistants) in SLC to support their day to day work with children; it is not a specific, time limited intervention programme.

Monitoring and assessment

There is a very useful Speech and Language Development Checklist from 3-11 years in the Language Builders booklet (provided for the core reading over the period of training giving advice and activities to encourage children’s communication skills). Read more about the Language Builders Booklet (opens in a new window)

Participants on the course also receive:

Accreditation through Open College Network (OCN) at either level two or three, the individual chooses the level under the guidance of the Elklan tutor.
Support needed to write a portfolio to achieve accreditation though the Open College Network.
Opportunities to meet other assistants and teachers and receive mutual support.

The training

The course runs for ten sessions, each with targets you will be able to achieve by the end of the course.

Course overview

What is communication?
Developing memory skills
Modifying adult's speech
Understanding beyond simple sentences
Encouraging expressive language
Promoting effective communication
Supporting children with unclear speech
Management of stammering

What is communication?

Identify the processes involved in communication
Appreciate the wide range of communication problems
Understanding non-verbal communication, listening, attention and using visual strategies
Identify non-verbal communication behaviours
Develop strategies to support children with poor listening and attention
Encourage the development of independent learning skills and use of visual support strategies

Developing memory skills

Understand how memory works and ideas to support different learning styles
Use mind maps and understand how to use them within the classroom
Develop activities to facilitate the learning of linguistic concepts

Modifying adult's speech to help a child understand language

Use the technique of Information Carrying Words (ICW's) to develop children's understanding
Make listening activities harder/easier to ensure flexibility in meeting the needs of individual children

Understanding beyond simple sentences

Use a language scheme model which supports verbal reasoning skills, including why and how questions, inferences, sequencing, predicting
Practice modifying the adults' speech accordingly

Encouraging expressive language

Identify the processes involved in expressive language.
Develop strategies to facilitate word finding
Learn techniques to develop syntax (grammar) and narrative skills

Promoting effective communication & social skills

‍Identify skills required for successful social communication and share ideas as to how to promote these

Supporting children with unclear speech

Know the development of speech sounds
Develop strategies to support children with unclear speech

Management of stammering and application of all strategies learnt

Share ideas to support children who stammer
Make a poster to present evidence of applying knowledge during everyday classroom activities

For more information about our Speaking and Listening programmes, contact our lead Speaking and Listening consultant Clare Reed on +44 (0)7973 324335; or email clare.reed@educationworks.org.uk.

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