Speech, Language and Communication

Wakefield Families Together > Pre-birth to 5 years > Speech, Language and Communication

Supporting your child's speech development

Talking, playing, and reading with your baby are powerful ways to develop their language and communication skills.

Did you know?

75% of brain development happens in the first 2 years.
90% of brain development occurs by age 5.
What you do can make a 25% difference in language development by age 3!

Stronger language skills can help your child achieve better outcomes and higher self-esteem. Every interaction makes a difference!

Babies are Born Ready to Communicate

The Babies are Born Ready to Communicate leaflet provides useful information and tips to help parents develop their children’s speech, language and communications skills from pre-birth to 5 years.

Babies are Born Ready to Communicate Leaflet

Learning to Talk

Find out how to support your child to make their first sounds, including activities for your daily routine and tips for everyday play.

Learning to Talk – Best Start in Life – NHS

Here are some more fun activity ideas for newborns to 6-month-old babies to practice language and communication skills at home: Activities for 0-6 months | Words for Life

Tiny Happy People

The Tiny Happy People website has tips and resources to help you develop your child’s language skills. Explore the simple activities and play ideas and find out about babies and toddlers’ early development.

Children’s language development and parenting advice – BBC Tiny Happy People

Speech and Language UK

Speech and Language UK have many free resources and services that can help with understanding what to look out for, child’s speech, language and communication milestones, how to get support and even some simple ways you can help your child at home.

Take a look: Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives

Growing Healthy 0-19 Service

Communication skills are assessed at the 2-2.5 year review by the 0-19 service, with staff offering early language advice and signposting to services.

Families can access support through the 0-19 service and Growing Healthy App. Download the app here: on Google Play (Android), or in the App Store (iOS)

Speech, Language and Communication information is available, and professionals can consult a specialist Speech and Language Therapist.

Contact the Single Point of Access (SPOC) at 0300 373 0944.

Mid Yorks Speech and Language Therapy Service

Specialist support from Speech and Language Therapists for children meeting referral criteria.

Children’s speech and language therapy | Mid Yorks

Referrals can be made through your GP, school, Health Visitor, or Nursery or email:

Myh-tr.mychildrenstherapy@nhs.net to ask for a referral form.

Speech, Language and Communication Strategy

The Wakefield Families Together Speech, Language and Communication Strategy (2023-2025) sets out the vision for effective speech, language and communication support across the district.

Speech, Language and Communication Strategy