A Chance To Talk…In Kirkby
Presented by: Jill Dancer & Steve Dixon
Date: 18th Manchester 2013
Introductions
Jill Dancer
Performance Manager
Integrated Targeted & Specialist Child Health Service
Community Health Services
5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Jill.Dancer@5bp.nhs.uk
Steve Dixon
Collaborative Development Manager
Kirkby
Merseyside
Steven.Dixon@knowsley.gov.uk
Kirkby, Merseyside
The A Chance To Talk Partners
Background to ACTT
• Child poverty in Kirkby Central - good speech
and language skills seen as a key to tackling
disadvantage
• Early Years Initiatives:
– Early Years Speech and Language Project
– Early Talk accreditation with ICAN
– Make Chatter Matter in Kirkby – road show
• Strong partnership working already in place –
allowed formation of the Operational Governance
Group for ACTT
Previous Development Work in Kirkby - Speech
and Language Interventions
Training for
teaching staff
and TAs
TA Training on
delivering
programmes
 Delivered by staff from  Delivered by
the Receptive
community SLT
Language Unit
colleagues
 On aspects such as
awareness raising
around expressive/
receptive language
difficulties, how to
S.L.E.I.P.
 Speech and Language
Early Intervention
Project
 Delivered by staff from
Receptive Language
Unit
 Focused on delivery of  Funded by AIMS
SLT programmes set by
 Early screening and
therapists
programme of
intervention for
receptive language with
identify, activities to use
reception classes
in class
A Chance To Talk 2010 - 2012
A Chance to Talk (ACTT) supports
schools to develop a coherent
school based strategy for improving
the language and communication
skills
of children aged 4-7.
Developing the Model
• Third sector organisations (ICAN, The Communication
Trust) lead management of the programme and
developed materials, resources, training for the
programme e.g. the Wave 2 ‘catch up’ intervention, a
tool for identifying children requiring support at Waves 2
and 3.
• Built on what was already in place in ICAN’s Primary
Talk programme e.g. tools to audit the school
environment to see how well it supports children’s
communication, and training programmes for class
teachers
• Worked with schools in the pilot to develop a model
which met their requirements – identified through
interview and audit.
The A Chance to Talk Model
• Focuses on early identification and intervention:
children aged 4-7
• ACTT employs a similar model to that used in Every
Child a Reader and Every Child Counts
• A speech and language therapist employed by a
cluster of schools
• Increased levels of expertise available in school
enables all the children to be supported effectively
and makes the whole school environment
communication friendly
The A Chance to Talk Model
• Tackles both the language and communication
difficulties linked to social disadvantage and those
linked to Special Educational Needs / Language
impairment
• Involved piloting an evidence informed “catch up”
programme delivered by trained teaching assistants
and/or volunteers for children whose language skills
was just below the norm.
• Provides 1-1 or small group support with a language
specialist for children who have more persistent
difficulties
• Provides information and support to families
appropriate to their child’s specific needs
The A Chance To Talk Model
ACTT – Wave 1- Universal Level/ Whole School Level
A series of training modules that:
• Train school staff in best communication practice to
make the whole school environment communication
friendly
• Supports staff to identify children who have SLCN
• Increase staff skill in understanding children’s
language needs and supporting their development
• Designed to be delivered flexibly according to
schools’ starting points
• Guidance and support for parents
ACTT – Wave 2 – Targeted Level - Talk Boost
• A targeted “catch up “ programme - for 4 to 7 year olds,
whose language skills are just below the norm –
narrows the gap
• The programme is simple to understand and use
• Delivered by trained school support staff
• Children are taught in small groups for 30-40 minutes,
3 times a week over a 10 week period
• Whole class activities ensure a clear link between small group work and the
classroom
• Information session and weekly “take–home“ activities for parents
ACTT – Wave 3 – Specialist Level
• For children who have more persistent difficulties:
SLT assessment and intervention plan
• Small group / individual support delivered by trained and
supervised LSA +/or SLT
• Information and support to families appropriate to their
child’s specific needs
What schools needed to provide
• An ACTT coordinator – on SMT
• Commitment to staff training and
development (both TA and teaching staff)
• Data for baseline/post intervention
• Support for interventions – wave 2 and 3
• Enthusiasm and lots of feedback
Specialist Speech and Language Therapist
Co-located with child health team:
• Increased integrated working and
information sharing with school nurses and
health visitors
• Increased support for ‘hard to reach’ families
• Rapid response to queries regarding support
received by children by both teams (e.g. A&E
notification, safeguarding concerns)
What happened in the project schools
• Wave 1 whole school training
• TA training for Wave 2 programme
• Training specific to school need
• Wave 2 groups implemented
• Wave 3 interventions
From Autumn 2010 – July 2012
Impact of Wave 1
Impact of Wave 2
What went well – feedback from schools
•
•
•
•
•
Great resources and really easy to follow
Lovely reward system
Children love attending the group
Chance to feedback to whole class
Improves confidence as well as understanding
of language
• Children learn from their peers
• Staff enjoy delivering it
Wave 3
Outcomes in Kirkby
• Staff have more awareness of SLC/N and an
increased understanding of the role of the SLT
• They are more able to identify which children need
wave 2 and which need wave 3 intervention
• They have developed communication supportive
classrooms
• They have found the wave 2 intervention (Talk Boost)
really valuable, and it has had a significant impact on
children’s language levels
• Children who would otherwise not get to clinic have
been able to access SLT support on a regular basis
A Chance to Talk
“Staff in the schools involved have
commented positively, not just on
changes in children’s language, but on
their confidence and their readiness to
learn and engage in activities with their
peers.”
Outcomes
Impact
Staff understand more
about SLC/N
Children develop
SLC skills
Children do better at
school
Able to identify children
with SLCN
Children able to
access curriculum
Able to support children
with language delay
Children more
engaged
Children with
language skills in
typical range
Classroom practice more Children with SLCN
supportive of
get support they need
communication
Schools are better
Schools have systems
able to commission
for supporting all
support for children’s
children’s SLC
SLC
Improved collaboration
between SLT and school
Fewer children
needing on-going
specialist support
Parents satisfied with
support
Services
commissioned in
effective and cost
effective way
A Chance to Talk has provided:
• An evidence base that demonstrates improved outcomes
for children and families and cost effectiveness
• Improvement in the knowledge, skills, practice and
confidence of all school staff in addressing the needs of
children with SLCN
• Enhanced the language and communication skills of all
children in the project schools and ensure that those who
need additional help are identified and supported early
• Accelerated the rate of progress of children with delayed
language – “closing the gap” between them and their
peers
• Ensure children with more persistent difficulties are
effectively supported to maximise their progress and
access the wider curriculum
ACTTIK
A Chance To Talk In Kirkby
July 2012 – August 2013
Original 7 project schools plus 5 new
schools
Wave 1
• Since September 2013 - all new schools have
completed the Primary Talk Supportive Training
Wave 2 – Talk Boost
• TAs in all 12 schools trained to carry out Talk
Boost Groups
• TAs assessing children before and after the 10
weeks
• Scores guide schools to place children in Wave
1, Wave 2 or Wave 3
Wave 2 – Talk Boost
• 73 children assessed since September 2012.
• 33 children have completed groups and have
been re-assessed.
• Majority of children showing improved scores in
all or most areas assessed.
• Where there are still difficulties
recommendations made by SLT (e.g. referral to
SLT / Wave 3, further wave 2).
Wave 3
• Since September 2012 - 66 children seen for
assessment (or reassessed from first phase of
project).
• 43 children currently being seen for 1:1 therapy
or group therapy with advice for support in the
classroom.
• 15 children being supported through advice /
programmes.
• 8 children discharged.
• Parents encouraged to attend sessions where
possible
ACTTIK – The Future
• In the Kirkby Collaborative a further commitment from
schools allowed for the pilot to continue beyond its
expiry- all primary schools in Kirkby were able to access
the programme - this is now likely to be extended for a
further two years from Sept. 2013
• A family of primary schools in the Central area of
Knowsley have worked together with ICAN to access
TalkBoost Training.
• Jill & Steve will be speaking to the Collaborative of
schools in the Southern area of Knowsley about ACTTIK
in the near future.
ACTT…IK
Any Questions?