The Speaking and Listening Bridge

This project will:

• Work with 6 of the hardest to reach families in Hammersmith & Fulham and 10 in Ealing to introduce speaking and listening skills between parents and children;
• Develop progression models, based on local circumstances from one to one intervention to learning in group situations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the models, in terms of:
  o Improving speaking and listening skills between parents and children;
  o Developing a positive approach to learning in the family;
  o Improving children's communication skills.

NIACE will, through this project, support the London Boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham to develop and deliver innovative approaches to develop speaking and listening skills for children in families with complex needs. The project will support parents, develop the underpinning skills for children to thrive and achieve their full potential. Each authority will take a different approach, based on local needs and existing services.

We will share the learning and findings from this project, using on-line communication tools, with professionals and policymakers working with families and children.

We want to show that working with parents and children together improves communication skills for both, and helps the whole family to engage with learning, thereby helping to reduce cycles of deprivation.

Mandy Thomas

mandy.thomas@niace.org.uk

NIACE
21 De Montfort Street
Leicester
LE1 7GE