Early Years - local resources and support

Your child will also be receiving universal support from early years setting. To understand what is available for your child in their school setting, please see here

Pregnancy

What support is routinely available to help me to understand how I can support my child's speech and language before they are born?

This may include support that is linked to speech and language but is not directly delivered or supported by the service.

Services

Midwife appointments: Midwife Antenatal Clinics are held at most Family Hubs, these appointments will be organised by your community midwife. All midwife antenatal clinics are by appointment only. For more information about community midwifery in local Family Hubs, please contact our local Family Hubs: Family centres

Family Hubs: Antenatal services and support are available to parents before baby is born. Parents communicating with baby before birth helps build a strong bond. Family Hubs offer a Preparation for Birth and Beyond 5 week antenatal course delivered with health colleagues For more information, and to book, please see Sheffield Preparation for Birth and Beyond Events - Eventbrite

Support Groups

Pre and Post-natal support group run by Light Sheffield: Peer Support Groups – Light Peer Support

Early Years

How do I know if my child's speech, language and communication is developing as you would expect?

Your child will be screened by Health Visitors to see if they are meeting developmental milestones during routine appointments (see next content block). However, there is also information online which can help you to understand what you might expect at different ages of early childhood, here are a few below:

• Developmental Stages – South Yorkshire Talking Together

• Communicating & talking skills :: Healthier Together

• Communicating kids - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

What routine appointments should I expect to receive which can help me to understand and support my child's speech and language development in their early years (between 0-5)?

	What	Who	When
0-19 services:
1. Antenatal (pre-birth) visit		Health visitor	30-36 weeks
2. New birth visit	Baby's growth and development is assessed. Parents/carers can get advice on feeding, vaccinations and early bonding.	Health visitor	10-14 days
3. 6-8 week visit	This visit will include a discussion about baby’s progress. The health visitor can arrange for extra help or visits if needed.	Health visitor	6-8 weeks
4. One Year Development Review	The Health Visitor will complete an Ages and Stages Questionnaire at this visit which will look at your child’s speech, language and development. If needed, the health visitor can refer your child to other services	Health visitor	8-12 months
5. Two-year development review	Another Ages & Stages Questionnaire will be completed at this visit, to look at your childs speech, language and development. If needed, the health visitor can refer your child to other services	Health visitor or Nursery Key Worker	2-2.5 years
Nurseries/Childminder:
6. Early Years Foundation Stage Progress Check	This progress check is for children who attend a nursery or a childminder. If there are any concerns, the early years setting will make a plan to support your child's development. For this plan, they can involve other professionals. They can also refer your child for a Two Year Integrated Review.	Nurseries/childminder	2 years
6a. Two Year Integrated Review	*THIS REVIEW IS ONLY REQUIRED IF THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE PROGRESS CHECK IDENTIFIES A CHILD IS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT* Outcomes from this review could include a referral to a group to help to address a specific issue, support from an Early Years prevention worker, a referral to a support group, or a referral to the 0 – 5 SEND Team who can work with children with complex or ongoing needs.	Parent/carer, Health Visitor, keyworker, SENCO from the Early Years setting
7. Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Assessment	If there are any concerns, the early years setting will make a plan to support your child's development. For this plan, they can involve other professionals.	Early Years setting	Completed in the final term when your child turns 5.

For more information follow the link: Visits from a Health Visitor

What activities and support are available if I am interested in learning more or I am a little concerned about my child's speech and language development?

Resources:
Sheffield Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service	Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust website provides a range of strategies you can use to help support your child's communication at home Communicating kids - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) Early communicators - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk) Sheffield Children’s Speech and Language Service have developed a wide range of videos to support your child’s language development at home. To access, follow the link: Weekend Words - YouTube
South Yorkshire Talking Together	The South Yorkshire Talking Together has a range of resources, tips and activities to support parents at home Top Tips: Top Tips – South Yorkshire Talking Together (sy-talkingtogether.co.uk) Activities: Activities – South Yorkshire Talking Together (sy-talkingtogether.co.uk)
Activity/support groups:
Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme	Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme offer support groups or activities for you and your baby to help them with their development: 0-6 months Baby Massage: highlights the importance of touch to increase bonding and attachment. Baby & Toddler Groups: provide parents with play activity ideas and parenting tips. Singing, sensory play and language modelling will also help baby’s communication develop. Toddler Trails/Outdoor Toddler Groups: Support child’s early language, communication and physical development. Parent & Toddler trails provide an opportunity to for children to explore. It also allows them to find exciting things in a local natural environment. The Bookstart Corner/Library bus: is suitable for children aged 1-2.5 years. Enjoying books with your child helps them develop language and communication skills. *Playdough Party:* involves singing and nursery rhymes. This can increase your child's physical skills and help them develop language and communication skills. For more information and to book, contact your local Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme

What support can I receive if my child is not meeting their developmental stages and they need additional support?

If your child’s speech, language and communication is not meeting their developmental stages then your child might require some more targeted support to help their development. Targeted support is a focussed intervention based upon your child’s needs. This may be identified through the routine screening tests (see above) carried out by professionals, or via parental/carer concern.

Support groups/workshops
	*Speech and Language Workshops* are run by the charity, Contact. They are suitable for parents of children (aged 0-5) with speech, language, and communication needs. To access, follow the link: Early years workshops \| Contact *Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Ealy Years Groups* e.g. the Communicate group and Small Talk groups. For more information, follow the link: Groups for Young Children with Additional Needs *Sheffield Parent Carer Forum Workshops* are held in conjunction with the SLT Service. Examples include 'introduction to Makaton', 'Social Stories', 'supporting speech sounds', and more. For more information and to book contact: enquiries@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk \| 0300 321 4721 \| www.sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk *Darnall Community Nursery Ready Steady Go* is a small, relaxed support group for parents and carers of children with additional needs aged 0-5 years. For more information and to book, follow the link: Ready Steady Go - Darnall Childrens Centre \| Sheffield Directory or call: 0114 242 3510 *Sheffield Small Talk (costs £2. 50).* A parent/carer support group for children with speech, language and communication needs. Please visit: Sheffield Small Talk - Speech and Language Therapy for Children \| Sheffield Directory to find out more
Services:
Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust Speech and Language Therapy Service	Telephone drop-in support from Speech & Language Therapy service. Find contact information here: How To Reach Us - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk)
Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme	Talking toddler programme - children are referred to this from their two-year review. Six week rolling programme aimed at children who are finding it difficult to start talking. Child must be 21 to 24 months at the onset of the programme. It provides carers with information and ideas about how to help with their language development. Your child can be referred by a professional or a self-referral generated via the helpline. *Explore Play & Learn* Run at various Family Hubs in the city alongside the Health Visiting Team. Strategies are provided for parents to enable them to support their child’s development at home. For a referral, speak with your Health Visitor. Incredible Toddler programme: (1-3 years) Parenting Programme, Descriptive commentary, Social coaching, Persistence coaching, Academic coaching and Emotional coaching. For more information, follow the links:Sheffield Parent Hub Events \| Eventbrite
Resources:
	Continue to use the resources available online to support your child in their home setting

Please note: The information on this web page is for reference purposes only. It is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications or abilities of any individual or organisation listed. Inclusion in this article does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Sheffield Place South Yorkshire ICB; nor does omission imply disapproval.

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