Issued: 18 Jun 2008
Children from 12 nurseries came together in Alness today (Wednesday 18 June) to join in the celebrations as Highland Early Learning Centres were presented with certificates to mark their success in gaining accreditation in I CAN's Early Talk programme.
I CAN, the national children's communication charity, has worked in partnership with The Highland Council and NHS Highland to run a training and accreditation scheme for nurseries aimed at improving children's speech and language skills. Highland is leading the way in Scotland with Obsdale Nursery in Alness one of only two centres in the country to have been awarded as a Specialist Communication centre.
The Highland Council's Chairman of Education, Culture and Sport, Councillor Bill Fernie congratulated the participants as he presented them with their certificates. He said: "Being able to speak, use language and communicate with others is one of the basic necessities for happiness and success. It affects our ability to learn, form relationships and make friends. I am delighted that we have been able to work with I CAN to support the development of communication skills in all children, especially those who may find this hard."
In 2002 the Highland Joint Committee for Children and Young People gave its approval to a bid from the Council and NHS Highland to open one of the first specialist Early Years Centres for children with communication difficulties in partnership with I CAN. Highland was one of two successful bids for Scotland and in 2003 I CAN. in Obsdale, Alness opened providing intensive speech, language and communication therapy. During the past four years 40 children have benefited from attending the Centre and a further 14 children have received outreach support in their local nurseries.
In 2006 the Council and NHS Highland signed up to the Early Talk programme run by I CAN and in April 2007 the first 20 nursery centres started their level one training.
Today the Supporting Communication Award was presented to: Ankerville Nursery, Tain; Ankerville Baby Unit, Tain; Ankerville Nursery, Alness; Ardersier Nursery; Conon Bridge Nursery; Fortrose pre-school Group; Little Angels Nursery, Dingwall; Maryburgh Nursery; Merkinch Nursery, Inverness; Park Nursery, Invergordon; Raigmore Nursery, Inverness and Teanassie Nursery, near Beauly.
The Communication Specialist Award was presented to ICAN at Obsdale, Alness.
Lesley Culling, I CAN's Head of Early Years, said: "We are absolutely delighted with all the supportive level nurseries and I CAN at Obsdale's achievement. This is testament to the commitment of the highly skilled staff teams, who are dedicated to achieving good results for children in the area. The service at I CAN's early years centre in Alness is excellent at supporting children with very severe speech, language and communication difficulties.
"I CAN, the children's communication charity, has been very pleased to work collaboratively with Highland Council and NHS Highland for over five years. We are particularly delighted by the development of Early Talk in Highland where nurseries and nursery staff have committed to take on training and work towards standards that will give children the communication skills they need to achieve and make friends. I would like to thank everyone who has worked really hard to make this happen."
I CAN estimates that between 40-50% of children nationally are entering primary schools without the speech and language skills that they need to learn, make friends and achieve. Around 5 ~ 7% have speech, language and communication needs in the absence of any other difficulty. These children do not have a general learning difficulty, or any physical or sensory impairment. The nature and complexity of their difficulties can often be invisible.
More children and young people have speech, language and communication needs as part of another condition such as autism, cerebral palsy and dyslexia.
The Director of Education, Culture and Sport, Hugh Fraser said: "When unable to communicate their feelings and needs, children can become frustrated, feel isolated and alone. There is a direct and proven link between communication disability and emotional and behavioural problems. Without the right help at the right time, these children are left out and left behind. Ignoring communication difficulties at any early age leads to longer term communication difficulties that need specialist support and help. We are therefore very pleased to be working with NHS Highland and ICAN to deliver this specialist training."
Ann Goodwin Kerr, Speech and Language Therapy Clinical Advisor with NHS Highland said: "Today's celebration recognises all the hard work of Early Learning centre staff. Building on the successes in East Ross and Cromarty, the programme is currently being rolled out across Highland with Inverness and Nairn areas recently receiving initial training. The project is set to run for another 3 years by which time we are aiming to ensure that a high number of Early Learning Centres have achieved accreditation and that there is a structured programme of continuing professional development that builds on our established and successful partnership with I CAN."