Talking Together
June 2015 to November 2024
Talking Together, originally developed by Bradford-based BHT Early Education and Training, was designed to improve the home learning environment for children aged 2 at risk of language development delay.
The project had three main elements:
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A Talking Together screening; a universal language assessment for all 2-year-olds, completed as a home visit.
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The Talking Together programme; a targeted 6-week home-based intervention to those identified as at risk for weak or delayed language development.
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The Talking Together + programme; additional support identified after the 6-week intervention, tailored to individual family need.
This was complemented by Owlets, a friendly group for families with children 18 months to 3 years with focused support for children’s language through play.
It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2015 to 2024 by BHT Education and Training.
Why this project was developed
Children from more deprived backgrounds have consistently been found to demonstrate poorer language skills, and this can be seen even before the children’s 2nd birthday.
Children growing up in poverty are likely to be spoken to less often and to have a less stimulating home learning environment. These determinants of children’s language skills are important targets for intervention, as changing these aspects of children’s early experience could help to reduce the impacts of deprivation.
Background, impact and findings
See 'further reading' below for full impact and evaluation reports
Further reading
Download this snapshot of the Talking Together project, with headline stats, background, impact and learning (PDF).
Download the story of the Talking Together project, from initial need, to what it set out to change and how, to key findings and more.
Download the final evaluation report from the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub for the Talking Together project.
In this webinar from November 2024, the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub, along with Better Start Bradford, explore evaluation findings relating to Better Start Bradford's I CAN, Better Start Imagine, and Talking Together projects.
The oTTer project was a feasibility study designed to establish the feasibility of running a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of the Talking Together programme.
Talking Bradford is a step-by-step guide to help parents and carers support their young children with speech, language and communication development.
A highly practical booklet and wallchart to help early years settings develop their work around speech, language and communication
A series of animated videos featuring everyday Big Little Moments you can share with your babies and toddlers to build their brains. The little moments you share every day make a big difference.
24-year-old Sherish was concerned about her two-year-old daughter's speech and language, but quickly grew in confidence after the first few Talking Together sessions
Mum of five, Sara, thought everything was okay with her youngest son's language development until she completed a routine questionnaire as part of the Talking Together assessment for two-year olds.
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