Our monthly updates provide information and resources for early years practitioners to support communication, language and literacy developments.

September 2025

This month our Come Talk with Me Top Tip is:

Look after your child’s teeth. Healthy teeth and gums will help your child make clear speech sounds.

Dental decay is a serious problem in young people, even though it is largely preventable. The government’s National Dental Epidemiology Programme Oral health survey of 5 year old children in 2022 reveals that almost one in four young children have experienced tooth decay by the time they are five. There are concerns that children and families are struggling to access NHS dentists.

The Pacey Oral Health guidance sets out some key resources to help you support oral health in your settings.

July 2025

This month our Come Talk with Me Top Tip is:

Try not to ask your child questions that start with ‘why’. They can be hard for young children to answer, so start with ‘who’, ‘what’ or ‘where’ instead.

Remember to use questions carefully though and spend more time commenting on what children are doing. Remember the ‘Hand Rule!’ Say at least 4 comments related to what a child is engaged in to one question asked.

Check Come Talk with Me - activities to do with your toddler for more ideas on how to support children’s speech, language and communication.

June 2025

This month our Come Talk with Me Top Tip is:

Use positive comments when your child says a new word. This will help your child know they are being listened to.

The National Literacy Trust

Take a look at the latest newsletter from the National Literacy Trust. This is full of great ideas to share with parents, including Internation Language Mother’s Day activities and downloadable free resources translated into 19 languages.