Let’s TALK

Welcome to the TALK Derby newsletter. We will be sharing with you successes, news about the programme, top talking tips, how you can get involved and much more!

Please share this newsletter with your friends, family and colleagues to spread the the word about TALK Derby around the city. October 2019, Issue 1

Big turnout turnout for TALK for Derby TALK launch Derby event launch event

Dozens of key partners, business leaders and councillors gathered at Pride Park on 25 September to learn more about TALK Derby. They heard about ways to support and promote TALK Derby across the city, as well as insights and successes from a similar project based in Warwickshire.

Two short films showing children talking to adults in Derby were introduced at the event. The first featured Councillor Evonne Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, who chatted A packed room to with children at Harrington Nursery School. hear about TALK Derby

In the second Dean Jackson, Managing Director of Derby-based HUUB, visited Wyndham Primary Academy in . Both films can both be viewed on the TALK Derby website.

TALK Derby Project Director, Kate Freeman said: “Simple, relevant and genuinely two-way conversations with children help to build their understanding and communication skills.

“We’re asking the people of Derby to make a Arline Mali, conscious commitment to spend more time talking Derby Childminder, who and listening to the children in their lives – and to attended the launch event encourage others to do the same.”

About TALK Derby

TALK Derby is a Government-funded project aimed at raising awareness of the importance of speech, language and communication development in children and young people – and provides practical support for it.

The Department for Education has funded the project until August 2020 as part of the national Opportunity Area programme. We’re supported by Derby City Council, the Derby Opportunity Area and a wide range of other partners. Pledges smash through the How you can support TALK Derby TALK Derby in action Harrington Nursery School century mark 1. Make the TALK Derby pledge We’re asking the people of Derby, and those TALK Derby is already having a big impact at More than 100 people have now who work with children, to make a conscious Harrington Nursery School in Pear Tree. made the TALK Derby pledge since commitment to spend more time talking and the project’s launch in June. Making listening to the children in their lives – and to Head teacher Wendy Colebourne firmly the pledge shows you believe all encourage others to do the same. Whatever believes that speech, language and children in Derby should get the your role, you can show your support by making communication are the number one priority best possible support for friendships, the TALK Derby pledge. education and life opportunities. for local children – not just in her school, but right across Derby. 2. Find out more about TALK Derby If you haven’t made that pledge You can find out how you can support TALK Wendy says: “When I was working as an Early yourself, it’s easy to do. Head to the Derby on the website: talkderby.org.uk or email Years co-ordinator I was really interested in TALK Derby website and complete a [email protected]. simple form by providing your name, the interactions parents had with their children postcode and email address. Once when picking them up from school. They were 3. Follow, like and share our social media engaging – helping children put their coats on you’ve submitted the form you’ll be We have three social media channels sharing and smiling at them – but some weren’t really able to download a certificate, to information about the project: display at your workplace or home. listening to what they were saying or having Twitter: @lets_TALKDerby conversations with them. Below are a selection of images of Facebook: TALKDerby people in Derby who have pledged Instagram: @talk_derby “How can we encourage parents to talk their support for TALK Derby. more with their children and how can we Follow these for updates, news, information and explain the importance of doing so? TALK training opportunities. Derby is helping us to achieve this.”

4. Look at and share TALK Derby’s resources for parents We aim to inspire and encourage parents and carers to help their children develop their communications skills. To do this we have provided a range of videos, materials and other guidance: https://talkderby.org.uk/resources/. Training sessions offering further support to help develop listening, attention and communication skills will also be available soon.

Derby City Council 5. Tell people about TALK Derby staff from Locality 3 and 4 Talking to your friends, family and colleagues children’s centres about the TALK Derby project will help to spread awareness of the importance of communicating The school has really embraced TALK Derby. with children and the support we offer. Its children feature in one of the films on the TALK Derby website. Harrington’s TALK Derby Champion Lindsay Fravolini is benefiting from the free training being provided in eight city wards, and the school has invited one of its volunteers to be trained too.

Parents are being told about the programme and encouraged to make the TALK Derby pledge. Lindsay said: “I’ve made a computer available so that parents attending school can pledge there and then. We also use county cricketers Leus Du Cat Moseley from Twitter and texts to make them aware.” Plooy, Ravi Rampaul and Tom Lace have Motorpoint, 2 pledged their support at the launch event TALK Derby in action Harrington Nursery School Opportunities to talk

TALK Derby is already having a big impact at Providing more chances to have Harrington Nursery School in Pear Tree. conversations is a key part of Harrington’s approach: Head teacher Wendy Colebourne firmly believes that speech, language and • Children are taken out of school and communication are the number one priority people are also invited in, giving the for local children – not just in her school, but children a wider view of the world and right across Derby. more opportunities to talk. • The Families Are Best initiative brings Wendy says: “When I was working as an Early parents into the school for shared activities Years co-ordinator I was really interested in such as cooking and reading. the interactions parents had with their children • Parents are encouraged to ‘walk and when picking them up from school. They were talk’ to and from school, chatting about engaging – helping children put their coats on subjects like the weather or flowers growing and smiling at them – but some weren’t really by the path. listening to what they were saying or having • All children and parents have access to conversations with them. the school library. Those less keen to use it receive a special bag to take books “How can we encourage parents to talk home. Parents are given guidance on more with their children and how can we how to read with their child, with each explain the importance of doing so? TALK book having five key words to focus on. Derby is helping us to achieve this.” Bilingual books in various languages are also available.

Wendy explains: “People are living busy lives, so being more specific about what to talk about – and when – really helps.

“We’re always looking to improve what we offer children. People learn from others and the TALK Derby Champions model also allows people to share best practice. It’s about challenging yourself to do the best you can.” Wendy Colebourne, Head of Harrington If you want your setting to be featured in the Nursery School next issue, please contact TALK Derby: [email protected]. The school has really embraced TALK Derby. Its children feature in one of the films on the TALK Derby website. Harrington’s TALK Derby Champion Lindsay Fravolini is benefiting from the free training being provided in eight city wards, and the school has invited one of its volunteers to be trained too.

Parents are being told about the programme and encouraged to make the TALK Derby pledge. Lindsay said: “I’ve made a computer available so that parents attending school can pledge there and then. We also use Key words attached to books at Harrington Twitter and texts to make them aware.” Nursery School. These guide parents on 3 how to read with their children. TALK Derby in numbers

TALK Derby is making significant progress, as can be seen from the figures shown below.

Three top tips… for parents and carers

In each issue we’ll be including a few tips, pointers and ideas for playing, talking and communicating with young children. Thank you to the Communication Trust for these tips for parents and carers:

• Encourage turn-taking during games. You can make it clear what you’re doing by explaining Jasiah and his mum Nicole playing and ‘my turn now’ and telling your child when taking turns they’ve done well at waiting for theirs. • Silence is okay. If you allow your child some space and time, you might be surprised what they say. • Use repetition: children need to hear words several times in different situations before they can understand and then use them.

For more tips and resources visit: talkderby.org/ resources/ Talking at Lord Street Nursery School

TALK Derby DAY announced

TALK Derby Day will take place on Wednesday 1st July 2020. The day will celebrate communication, speech and language through events taking place across the city. Planning is already underway and we’ll be inviting you to get involved in organising and attending the activities. Watch this space - save the date! Start thinking about what you could do.

www.talkderby.org.uk [email protected] TALKDerby @lets_TALKDerby talk_derby