Early Talk Boost
Early language development is crucial, that’s why we’re committed to giving every child the skills they need to communicate confidently with the world around them. This is where the Early Talk Boost programme comes in!
Here’s everything you need to know about how Early Talk Boost can make a lasting impact on your child’s communication journey.
What is Early Talk Boost?
Developed by I CAN, a leading charity in speech and language, Early Talk Boost is an evidence based programme designed to help young children strengthen their communication skills. Tailored specifically for 3 and 4-year-olds, the programme supports children who might benefit from extra help with their speech and language development, focussing on essential skills such as listening, building vocabulary, sentence structure and conversation.
Delivered over a 9-week period, Early Talk Boost is run by team members trained as Early Talk Boost Leads. Held during the nursery day, sessions are structured, engaging and interactive, with small groups of children coming together to develop their communication skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Why Early Talk Boost matters
Language development is the foundation for future learning, the skills your child builds now will have a lasting impact on their ability to read, write, and communicate as they grow. Early Talk Boost ensures that children who need extra support receive the right guidance at the right time, setting them up for success both now and in the future.
The Key Focus Areas
Throughout the programme, children take part in a series of fun learning activities that build their speech, language, and communication skills. Week by week the programme covers:
Weeks 1 & 2: Attention and listening
The first two weeks focus on the essential skill of listening carefully, an important foundation for future learning. Activities focus on attention and help children follow simple instructions.
Weeks 3 & 4: Developing vocabulary
In weeks three and four, the focus shifts to expanding vocabulary. Children learn to use a wider range of words, from names for objects (nouns) to descriptive words such as ‘big’ and ‘small’.
Weeks 5 to 8: Building sentences
As vocabulary grows, the children move on to forming simple sentences. These weeks focus on teaching action words (verbs) and prepositions.
Week 9: Having conversations
In the final week, the programme emphasises using language for social interaction. Children practise initiating and responding to simple conversations to build meaningful connections and friendships.
At the end of each week, children take home a special book featuring the characters Jake and Tizzy. These books complement the weekly themes and give families a fun way to reinforce the language skills their child is learning.
