Before words - Who is it for?

Who is it for?

Before Words is for parents, and can reach them in many ways. . .

Midwives

can support the very first interactions between mother and baby using Before Words as a resource. Before Words facilitates discussion on the importance of the developing relationship and communication between parents and child. This pictorial resource can then be left with parents as an accessible reminder and reference.

Health Visitors

Before Words supports the 'Hall 4' health visiting initiative and programme of early visits. It offers the opportunity to discuss with the parents / carers their relationship and interaction with the baby during the first few months of life and to suggest ways of supporting that communication.

Speech and Language Therapists

can use this resource to support primary prevention work with parents and as part of training information for colleagues on early communication development.

Early Year's Workers

• Childminders
• Toddler group workers
• Playgroup leaders
• Surestart workers
• Children's centre workers

Before Words supports the work of many early years workers. It is a useful accessible resource on encouraging early relationship and communication in young children. It can also be used as a valuable talking point in groups - baby social; baby massage; baby signing; parents and toddlers; young mums groups - raising awareness.

Nursery teachers

Working in nurseries offering full day care would find Before Words a useful resource for both themselves and parents, providing consistent messages to support their shared parenting of the child.

Before Words has also been successfully included in training programmes - both with parents and early years' workers - to raise their awareness of the development of early interaction and communication and ways to facilitate that development.

"The foundations of communication development are laid in the very earliest of experiences. The context for this development is interaction. Communication skills can only be developed with adequate stimulation and response from others. Speech and language development is also intimately connected to other aspects of a child's development and health. It is important therefore that all those involved in working with children encourage language development".

Sure Start. Sure Start Children's Centres: Practice guidance.

Standard 11:
Staff Training and Development

Primary Care Trusts and Local Authorities develop staff training programmes to ensure that staff at all levels within organisations have a common core of skills, knowledge and competences which are appropriate to their responsibilities and degree of contact with children, young people and families.

A common core of skills, knowledge and competences may include: Effective communication and engagement (listening to and involving children and working with parents, carers and families).

Department for education and skills & Department of Health . (2004) National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. Core Standards. DH Publications.