Nursery World - Speech scheme goes out with a bang

A speech and language programme that has helped more than 8,000 under-fives develop their communication skills will be celebrating its success next month as it draws to a close due to lack of funding.

The Time to Talk initiative run by Sandwell Borough Council in the WestMidlands has reached more than three times its original target number ofchildren and has reduced the number of children being referred foradditional speech and language provision.

Many local nurseries have incorporated activities from Time to Talk intotheir practice.

Time to Talk was launched in March 2006 with 2.75m from theGovernment's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. It uses activities such asmusic, storytelling, puppets, dance and arts and crafts to improvecommunication skills.

Rita Wiseman, head of Integrated Services, Early Years and Families atSandwell Borough Council, said, 'The number of children who have takenpart in Time to Talk is far greater than we had originally anticipated.Its great success is down to a cleverly designed programme of activitiesto stimulate and excite young children and which they are then keen tocommunicate.'

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