Tots Talking is a programme developed to help parents/carers improve the language skills of their children before they start school. It is aimed at parents/carers of preschoolers, aged 2-3 years old, at risk of having language difficulties. (It is not aimed at parents/carers of children with SEND). The programme is delivered during 8 weekly 1-hour sessions hosted by early years practitioners. The programme is supported by the Tots Talking app (that parents can access via their phones) and by Speech and Language UK.

The BTSA is delighted to be able to offer preschools/nurseries the opportunity to train members of staff as Tots Talking facilitators to host the weekly parent workshops. Facilitators are required to complete this training before they can deliver the Tots Talking programme to parents. Our certified host will train members of staff to deliver the Tots Talking programme and provide guidance on using the Tots Talking app (iOS and Android) which supports child and parent/guardian participation and provides information and reminders to aid learning and encourage practise at home.

The Tots Talking programme includes the following resources:

Facilitator guide to help run the sessions
Access to the Tots Talking App (iOS and Android)
Support from Speech and Language UK

These can be purchased, upon completion of the compulsory Tots Talking facilitator training, at a cost of £150 per setting.

For further information on the Tots Talking programme, please select our Sessions tab above.

Please view attached flyer for facilitator training session details: Tots Talking Facilitator Training

TO BOOK A PLACE ON THE FACILITATOR TRAINING COURSE, PLEASE ADD NUMBER OF DELEGATES TO THE CART ABOVE. THE PRICE STATED ABOVE RELATES TO THIS SESSION ONLY. TOTS TALKING RESOURCES CAN BE PURCHASED SEPARATELY AT A COST OF £150 PER SETTING.

THIS SESSION WILL BE RECORDED AND THE RECORDING AVAILABLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS FOR 48 HOURS SHOULD ANYONE BE UNABLE TO ATTEND THE LIVE EVENT.

TOTS TALKING PROGRAMME

The Tots Talking programme was developed to help parents/carers improve the language skills of their children before starting school. It is aimed at our youngest preschoolers, aged 2-3 years old. Parents are shown examples of turn-taking, sharing the child's interest, adding on to children's comments and other contingent behaviours. Tots Talking has eight sessions that run once a week, with small groups of 6-8 parents of preschoolers at risk of having language difficulties. Each session lasts for one hour.

The programme is supported by the Tots Talking app that parents can use on their phone. The app gives information and reminders to help parents/carers learning and encourage them to practise what they have learned at home with their child.

How does it work?

The weekly sessions are run by early years practitioners who have completed the Tots Talking Facilitator Training. The facilitator can decide on the best time to run the Tots Talking workshop each week. The groups runs without children attending. Children may come in for the last 5 minutes so parents can show them what they have made but this is optional.

Who is Tots Talking for?

Tots Talking is aimed at parents and caregivers of 2-3 year old children. It is not aimed at parents of children with SEND.

What is included?

Facilitator guide to help run the sessions
Access to the Tots Talking App (iOS and Android)
Support from Speech and Language UK

Costs

The Tots Talking resources cost £150 per setting plus the cost of the Tots Talking Facilitator Training.

Tots Talking Parent Workshops

Tots Talking parent workshops should be run once a week for 8 weeks hosted by early years practitioners. They should consist of small groups of 6-8 parents of preschoolers at risk of having language difficulties. Each session lasts for one hour.

Parent workshops can start at any time and our course facilitator will be able to support/host the first set of parent/carer workshops if required. Workshops should ideally be held at individual preschool/nursery settings delivered by qualified early years practitioners.

This session will take place online via Zoom. Please ensure that you have received joining instructions, including an ID number and password, prior to the session.

Please contact Denise Mair on denise.btsa@kingston.essex.sch.uk if you have any questions or have not received joining instructions.

Use of Zoom
For those of you that may not have used Zoom before, please load the app onto your chosen devise then simply click on the session link provided or select “Join meeting” and type in the ID number and password provided. Remember to activate your video and audio so that you can be seen and heard by everybody and select gallery view (tap on top left of tablets for this option or swipe right on mobiles) so that you can see other participants and your facilitator.

Please can all delegates ensure they arrive at their destination 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the event. This will allow time for delegates to sign in at reception and be escorted to the meeting room. When attending an online event, please join the meeting on time and muted (unless requested otherwise) to ensure all delegates are able to hear the facilitator.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Should delegates wish to cancel a place on a course you must notify the BTSA Manager, Denise Mair at denise.btsa@kingston.essex.sch.uk

Failure to attend a course will be considered a cancellation and as such no refund will be offered. If you cancel a place on a fee-paying course within four working weeks, 50% of the fee paid will be reimbursed. Cancellations received within two working weeks will incur the full fee paid. Non-attendance of funded or free places without notification of extenuating circumstances within 48 hours will result in a charge to the school/organisation of £35 per session. Please inform us if you are unable to attend as this may allow another delegate to attend in your place.

Tots Talking Facilitator Training - enable preschools to support parents to improve language skills of 2-3 year olds - online via Zoom(ID 1211)