Totsy's Place

The Chatterbox Challenge - join us!

The Chatterbox Challenge is I CAN’s fundraising campaign to raise much needed funds for the charity that is all about building confident communicators and helping children with speech and language.

Over one million children in the UK struggle to communicate, and statistics show that 1 in 10 children have severe difficulties and need long term support. 

I CAN’s mission is “to ensure that all children and young people who struggle to communicate receive the help they need so they can have a happy childhood, make progress at school and thrive in adulthood.”

I CAN is also one of the 39 voluntary organisations and community sectors in a coalition that is the Communication Trust. I CAN’s Chatterbox Challenge, now in its 10th year will have participants singing: Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes, proving how singing contributes to children’s early language development.

Children will be sponsored to take part in this action song and three others to raise money for I CAN. There is a further opportunity to participate in I CAN’s attempt to be in the Guiness Book of World records for the biggest number of people singing Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.

More information is in the Chatterbox Challenge pack.


The Communication Trust's Hello campaign is designed to encourage good communication skills from parents, professionals and educators. With the slogan “Talk, Listen. Take Part” is key to developing early years communication. I CAN’s chatterbox challenge will be the first event that will officially launch the Hello and the national year of communications.

 

Talking Tots centres in the UK will be taking up the Chatterbox Challenge during the week of 14-17 February. Watch out for lots of fun Talking Tots activities and ideas and free sessions!

Click here to read our Top Ten Tips to help your baby's communication.

 

National Year of Communication is off to a flying start with Talking Tots in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme !

Talking Tots Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme is excited to be involved in the National Year of Communication, which began in January.
The aim of the National Year is to help all children and young people fulfil their potential through better communication and was originally proposed in John Bercow’s 2008 Review of Services for Children and Young People 0-19 with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
“75 percent of heads of nurseries and schools admitting three-year-olds have noticed a significant decline in children’s language competence at entry over the last five years.” National Association of Head Teachers.

At a recent event attended by Talking Tots franchise owner Neroli Oakley, Stoke Speaks Out presented evidence that a very high percentage of 3 year olds in the city are failing their Early Years Communication Checks, suggesting that they could suffer Communication and Literacy Difficulties in later life. A worrying number of young adults in Stoke on Trent have the literacy levels of a 12 year old.
 “…one in ten children in the U.K (approximately one million) have a speech or language difficulty...  In Stoke on Trent the figure is much higher than this - evidence from Sure Start local programmes suggests that more than half of the children in Stoke on Trent are at risk of a language or speech delay. This will impact significantly on the child's ability to learn and on future opportunities in life” Stoke Speaks Out.

There are a range of excellent services such as Stoke Speaks Out and Children’s Centres provided by the local authorities in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire that hope to address these problems. Talking Tots is working with these services to deliver its unique pre-school communication classes at subsidised prices.
However many of these are now in danger of closure due to cuts imposed by the recent Government Spending Review.
 “Talking Tots is keen to be a positive contributor to the unified and inclusive effort to provide support services in the area to all Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s residents” said Neroli Oakley. “This is only possible through the goodwill and constant support of agencies such as Libraries, Community Learning Partnerships, Stoke Speaks out and Children’s Centres.”
 
About Talking Tots
Talking Tots is the UK’s fastest growing pre-school activity franchise and was awarded “Best Innovation for 2008” at the What's on 4 Little Ones Awards, and was highly commended in the “Best Toddler Development Class” category.
To find your local Talking Tots class, please visit our website at Talking Tots or contact Talking Tots on 01253 735355.
For enquiries about classes in the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme area, please contact Neroli Oakley on 07876 506557 or roly@talkingtots.info.

Web Links:
Stoke Speaks Out

Talking Tots

The Communication Trust

ICAN

Every Child Matters

Shout Out for Surestart

Stoke.gov.uk

Staffordshire Children's Trust