Talking

When we talk about talking we mean the words we use, and how we join them together in sentences. Sometimes it’s called expressive language. 

Children usually start by developing their single word vocabulary. There is a big variation for when this starts and how quickly it progresses – this is expected! When children have around 50 single words they may start to join them together. We often see two word phrases first. These build in length and complexity over time. 

Talking includes grammar and sentence order. For most children this continues to develop over time with experience and opportunity to use their sentences. However, all children develop at their own pace. 

Many children grow up in multi-lingual homes. This should be celebrated as talking more than one language is an amazing skill to have. There is no evidence that learning more than one language at the same time makes it any more difficult in the long term. 

What you might notice if your child would benefit from support with their talking skills? 

Your child might: 

• have not yet developed 20 single words at 2 years old
• be not yet putting words together at 3 years old
• be jumbling up their sentence order at 3 years old
• be missing out the little words at 3 years old
• be learning language in chunks based on what they’ve heard
• not always remember words you’ve heard them use before
• find it difficult to think of the word they want to say

How you can help

Check out our 5 top tips video to find out more about how you can help.

If you need to make a request for support

Anyone, including parents and carers, can request support from Speech and Language Therapy. You can do this via our request for support referral form.

The support we offer is always tailored to the needs of your child. Some children benefit from individualised support, others benefit from support in their environment. Speech and Language Therapy support children with their talking where there is an impact on their

• making friends
• learning
• joining in at home and at school
• making choices and responding to change 

Some children need more time to develop their talking. A child’s talking is always considered alongside the rest of their milestones, like walking and cognition. 

Speech and Language Therapy do not work with children whose difficulty is with talking in English when they are talking as expected in their first language. Speech and Language Therapy support multilingual children when they have difficulties with talking in all their languages. 

Speech and Language Therapy might look like:

• a Speech and Language Therapist assessing a child’s talking through play
• a language assessment in clinic to look at strengths and needs
• a Speech and Language Therapist visiting their setting, or home
• coaching with our Speech and Language Therapy Assistants
• recommendations and strategies for practice at home and in their setting
• an explanation of strengths and needs and how these can be supported 

When a child continues to have difficulty with their expressive language beyond Reception age, they might be supported by the Specialist Advisory Teaching Team for Speech and Language.

Cumberland Specialist Advisory Teaching Team for Speech and Language

We discharge at a point when:

• adults around the child are confident supporting their continued communication development

or

• the child is Year 1 and above and has continued expressive language needs. A child’s school need to make an onward referral to a Specialist Advisory teacher for Speech and Language

or

• progress means they are able to use words and sentences to connect with others and have their needs met