children spoke more and areas where they rarely spoke. The outcomes highlighted that boys participated more in physical activities that required little communication; subsequently the staff created areas that encouraged communication and discussion for all children. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DFCSF) released the ECAT: Guidance for Early Language Lead Practitioners (2008). The resource was designed to support a Lead Practitioner in developing high quality language provision within the setting. The ECAT is designed to create and develop appropriate, stimulating and supportive environment which children can enjoy experimenting with and learning language. It can be executed in an early year setting, with a child minder or at home …show more content…
The ECAT will offer parents concepts about how to support their child’s early language development such as using activities, books, library visits, story sessions and songs. Linking play and learning from in the setting to at home, the ECAT will provide the practitioners with confidence to support the parents more effectively; they are also supported by the local early language consultant for any advice, training or support. Suffolk county council presented results from a survey undertaken by the Communication Trust Charity that asked 349 teachers and found that only 27% had received training around Language, Speech and Communication. A further study stated that 81% felt they would benefit from more training in this area (2014). The ECAT plans to support children from the earliest intervention so that if there are any difficulties they can be prevented in the first place or detected early so that they are given the appropriate help. Mark Rosen backs the programme stating, “I wholeheartedly support Every Child a Talker, and I am sure it’ll help all of us working with young children to focus on what will help every single child develop” (DfCSF,