Resources for exploring music and language in early years settings launched

The free resource, launched in January 2020 by I CAN, The Communication Trust and Creative Futures, aims to highlight some of the commonalities between music practice and speech, language and communication practice. It contains practical tips, strategies and real-life examples based on an action research project and CPD course run by Creative Futures in schools since 2015.

Included is information on the typical development of speech, language and communication skills in children, suggestions for supporting children’s musical identity, and video examples of practitioners supporting and nurturing children’s music making and development.

Following feedback from early years practitioners, four new videos have been added to the website, demonstrating new ways of encouraging musical exploration in early years settings, and how children’s communication and interaction can be encouraged through the medium of music.

Another update to the website is the downloadable PDF on Sound Stone Stories for using music within the context of a story, which contains an example of a sound stone story created by Kate Comberti, Creative Producer at Creative Futures, as well as some tips for how practitioners can create their own Sound Stone stories.

Also included in the July launch is a webpage on supporting children learning English as an additional language.

Amy Loxley, speech and language advisor, I CAN, said, ‘This online resource has allowed us to reach a much larger number of early years professionals around the UK and equip them with tools and approaches to support all children, including those with speech, language and communication needs.