Professionals (2-2½ years old)

child blowing bubbles

On this page you will find useful advice for supporting 2-2½ year-olds who may need extra support with speech and language and communication development.

You can also go to the dedicated 2-2½ year-olds page for parents. Here you will find many useful resources including a range of videos and website links. You will find strategies relevant to your direct work with this age group. It will also be helpful if you can signpost parents to this page during your work with them.

Screening and identification

Please take a look at our screening tools. The forms can be printed off, completed by hand, and then scanned, or downloaded from the website as a word document. It is recommended that you do not complete the form directly on the website as your work may be lost.

The tools link in with the service’s referral criteria. They will help you to understand whether a referral to our service is appropriate. They will also help you to know where to focus your universal or targeted support.

Please watch this short video for further information on screening tools:

Environmental support

Please find below advice which will support you to creating a communication-friendly environment in your setting.

Advice Click to Toggle

Communication supportive environments for practitioners (speechandlanguage.org.uk)

Communication-friendly environments (Communication Trust)

Communication-friendly checklists (speechandlanguage .org.uk)

Workforce development

Please find below a series of resources for you to use to develop your own knowledge and skills in supporting speech, language, and communication skills. You will find links to free pre-recorded training and short online courses. You will also find advice on specific strategies that you can use to support the children you work with.