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Becoming an Elklan Communication Friendly Early Years Setting

Elklan Communication Friendly Setting (CFSe) accreditation is awarded to Early Years settings (including nursery classes in mainstream schools) that have trained and supported all their staff in communication and language development. They will also have shown evidence of embedding this knowledge in targeted interventions and through the implementation of a setting communication policy. Accreditation can be achieved in one year and is renewed after three years. It is the most cost effective strategy available for capacity building in communication within settings.

Download the overview flyer PDF or view the information below to find out how your Early Years setting can become a Communication Friendly Setting.

Becoming a CFSe involves three elements each of which can be commissioned separately:

  1. Training Practitioners
  2. Training all the staff in a setting through a Lead Communication Practitioner
  3. An audit of the embedding of practices and policies in the setting
What's the evidence?

Evaluation report submitted to DofE, April 2016 Evaluation report submitted to DofE, April 2016

Summary of the report submitted to DofE, April 2016 Summary of the report submitted to DofE, April 2016

The impact of training on practitioner confidence, knowledge and skills - a quick glance The impact of training on practitioner confidence, knowledge and skills - a quick glance

Evaluation of the Elkan Talking Matters Programme, J.Clegg, C.Rohde, University of Sheffield 07/2017 Evaluation of the Elkan Talking Matters Programme, J.Clegg, C.Rohde, University of Sheffield 07/2017

The CFSe programme for Early Years settings

1. Practitioner training:
Speech and Language Support for 0-3s or 3-5s

1 in 10 practitioners in each setting achieve Level 3
Level 3 course (9 credits) @ £91.80 (£468*) pp

2. Whole setting training:
Communication Counts

LCP completes Level 4 portfolio (10 credits) @ £144.80 (£459.80 *) pp

3. Audit and Accreditation

£114.80 (£234.80*)
* Prices in brackets include Elklan provided tutoring fees

About the stages:

1. Elklan Speech and Language Support for 0-3s or Speech and Language Support for 3-5s

To achieve CFSe status 1 in 10 early support workers/practitioners complete one of these two courses. You can find out more about Speech and Language Support for 0-3s and Speech and Language Support for 3-5s. Practitioners who have already completed either course within the three years prior to commencing the CFS process can be counted. However, training more practitioners adds to the setting’s capacity.

Participants learn about communication theory, are given practical interventions and understand how and why to use these strategies to help all young children to develop their language and communication skills. A portfolio of practical work and interventions with pupils embeds the teaching and this is assessed and marked by the tutor.

There are no entrance requirements for these courses which run with 10-15 learners. Settings working together have an enriched learning experience.

One of the early years practitioners who completes this course will become the Lead Communication Practitioner (LCP) in the setting.

2. Training all the staff through a Lead Communication Practitioner

LCPs are provided with Communication Counts teaching notes and tutoring to enable them to cascade the core elements of the full programme to others. They train ALL staff including administrative members of the team. Alongside this they complete a Level 4 portfolio which involves an analysis by the LCP of the embedding of the training and an evaluation of the impact in the setting on staff and pupils.

What is taught in Communication Counts?

The sessions cover:

  • What is communication?
  • Modifying the setting to make it communication friendly and 'adult-child interaction'
  • The word journey
  • The language journey
  • Working with families and linking it all together

3. Gaining Communication Friendly Setting Accreditation

Settings submit their setting evidence which is then audited either by an Elklan tutor or a partner setting who are also completing (or who have achieved) Elklan CFSe. Following successful marking and verification of the setting evidence and Level 4 portfolio CFSe status is awarded.

Feedback on the impact of whole-school training:

Register your setting's interest

If your setting wishes to achieve Communication Friendly Setting status please contact Roger Elks, roger@elklan.co.uk.

See also: