Professionals (7-11 years old)
On this page you will find useful advice for supporting 7-11 year-olds who may need extra support with speech and language and communication development.
You can also go to the dedicated 7-11 year-old page for parents. Here you will find many useful resources including a range of videos and website links. You will find strategies relevant to your direct work with this age group. It will also be helpful if you can signpost parents to this page during your work with them.
Changes to referral process
You can watch this short video to understand what changes have recently been made to the referral process and why. We have also made short videos to talk you through the screening tools, referral criteria and referral forms if you need.
Screening and identification
Please take a look at our screening tools. The forms can be printed off, completed by hand, and then scanned, or downloaded from the website as a word document. It is recommended that you do not complete the form directly on the website as your work may be lost.
The tools link in with the service’s referral criteria. They will help you to understand whether a referral to our service is appropriate. They will also help you to know where to focus your universal or targeted support.
You can also view the speech sounds screening tool and pictures you’ll need to use it.
Please watch this short video for further information on screening tools:
Targeted intervention
Please find below user guides to assist you in choosing an appropriate targeted intervention to support a child’s talking, understanding, and social interaction.
You can also watch this short video to find out more about targeted interventions and universal support:
Help with understanding Click to Toggle
Active listening for active learners
Black Sheep Press Oral to Written Narrative User Guide
Pre-teaching Vocabulary User Guide
Help with talking Click to Toggle
Black Sheep Press Oral to Written Narrative User Guide
Pre-teaching Vocabulary User Guide
Help with social interaction Click to Toggle
Environmental support
Please find below advice which will support you to creating a communication-friendly environment in your setting.
General advice Click to Toggle
Workforce development
Please find below a series of resources for you to use to develop your own knowledge and skills in supporting speech, language, and communication skills. You will find links to free pre-recorded training and short online courses. You will also find advice on specific strategies that you can use to support the children you work with.
Bradford training videos Click to Toggle
Supporting understanding – blank levels overview
This 30-minute training video explains how adults can adapt their language to support a child’s understanding. It describes the ‘blank levels’ model of language and how it can be used to support a child’s ability to understand language during interactions and learning activities.
Supporting vocabulary and word-learning
This 35-minute training video explains how adults can support a child’s vocabulary development. It describes how to choose target vocabulary and explains a range of universal strategies and targeted supports that can be used within the classroom and small groups.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Children over the age of five who have language difficulties that impact on their communication and learning in everyday life may have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). A Speech and Language Therapist would make this diagnosis. This short eight-minute presentation explains more about DLD and describes some key strategies to help.
Supporting language using colour coding
This 55-minute training video explains how adults can use colour coding of words and sentences to support a child’s understanding and talking.
Supporting understanding and clarification skills (active listening)
This 30-minute training video explores strategies that can be used to support children to be active in their own understanding and learning.
External training courses Click to Toggle
CPD short course (speechandlanguage.org.uk)
SLCF – The Communication Trust (slcframework.org.uk)
Children you are working with may or may not have a diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). If they are having difficulties with their talking and/or understanding of language the advice in the webinars below will be useful to support them:
General advice Click to Toggle
Making a referral
To find out everything you need to know about referring a child to the Speech and Language Therapy team please visit the Referrals page.