Elklan

18/11/2025

We’re delighted to share a brand new case study celebrating the incredible work of Amy Kelly, Early Years Practitioner and one of the first ever Early Years HLCP in the country.

Amy has played a pioneering role in strengthening partnerships with SaLT services, empowering families and transforming support for children with speech, language and communication needs at Little Birch Preschool in Dorset. Her story shows just how powerful the HLCP role can be in early years settings.

And we’re excited to say…
Our first Early Years HLCP cohort begins this January!
If you're passionate about improving communication outcomes for young children and want to take a leading role in your setting, now is the perfect time to find out more.

📖 Read Amy’s inspiring case study
🔗 https://elklan.co.uk/Blog/Case_Study:_New_Higher_Level_Communication_Practitioners_Making_a_Difference_in_Early_Years?eac=60C88A116796E02CC076

✨ Learn more about the Early Years HLCP programme and how you can join the January cohort
🔗 https://elklan.co.uk/HLCP/?eac=60C88A116796E02CC076

Early Years Practitioner Amy Kelly shares how becoming a Higher Level Communication Practitioner (HLCP) helped her strengthen links with local speech and language services, families and schools.

04/11/2025

Online Course for Early Years Practitioners! Give every child the best start in communication, learning and life.

Elklan’s Speech and Language Support for 3–5s course helps early years practitioners develop practical, evidence-based strategies to support children’s speech, language and communication.

You’ll learn how to:
🔸Create communication-friendly settings
🔸Support understanding and expressive language
🔸Promote vocabulary and early narrative skills
🔸Build children’s confidence and participation

Course details:
🔸Starts Tuesday 11th November 2025
🔸3:30pm - 4:30pm each Tuesday
🔸Dates: 11 Nov - 24 Feb
🔸Delivered live online by Elklan tutors

Accredited at Level 3, this course is ideal for all early years practitioners who want to strengthen their support for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Places are limited - book now to start making a difference in your setting.

https://www.elklan.co.uk/Apply/learners?b=77a9b5d5

29/10/2025

Early Talk for York: improving outcomes through communication!

We’re proud to share this brilliant feature on Early Talk for York - an award-winning programme that’s helping children across York develop vital speech, language and communication skills.

The approach is built on collaboration, bringing together early years practitioners, parents, speech and language therapists and wider services to give every child the best possible start.

Elklan is delighted to be part of this work, providing the training and resources that underpin the Early Talk for York programme. It’s fantastic to see the difference it’s making for children, families and practitioners alike.

Read the full article here 👇

https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/features/early-talk-for-york-an-accessible-and-effective-programme-to-support-communication

17/10/2025

🟡 It’s DLD Awareness Day!

Around 1 in 14 children have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) – a lifelong difference in how language is understood and used.

To help raise awareness, we’re offering 50% off our DLD Awareness e-book – now just £5.

Use code DLDday at checkout.

📘 E-book only. Valid until 00:00 on Tuesday 21st October.

🔗 https://elklan.co.uk/Shop/Developmental_Language_Disorder?eac=F9B746AD206CD2489044

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17/10/2025

🟡 Today is DLD Awareness Day!

Around 7% of children have Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). That’s roughly two in every classroom.

DLD is a lifelong difference in how language is understood and used. Children and young people with DLD often have wonderful ideas and imagination, they may just need extra time and support to express them.

Ways to help:
✅ Give time for thinking and responding
✅ Use visuals, gesture and repetition
✅ Rephrase and clarify naturally
✅ Encourage and celebrate communication attempts

When adults understand DLD, children feel seen, supported and empowered to succeed. 💛

RADLD - Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder

03/10/2025

Embedding Communication in Creative Learning, with Elklan Training at the Core 💬

At Brays School, Birmingham, pupils with profound and complex needs are benefitting from a unique approach that embeds communication into every part of learning.

Through their award-winning Creative Space, children explore themed, multi-sensory environments designed to support play, regulation, and communication. Alongside this, staff trained in Elklan Speech and Language Support (SLS) and progressing to the Higher Level Communication Practitioner (HLCP) Award have been able to extend and embed the impact even further.

With a specialist SALT TA trained in Elklan approaches, Brays saw:
🟠65% of communication targets fully met (previously only 28%)
🟠Staff upskilled to link Creative Space learning to IEP and EHCP outcomes
🟠Sustainable expertise developed through the Elklan HLCP qualification, ensuring long-term capacity within the school

This case study highlights why investing in Elklan’s HLCP programme makes such a difference, equipping schools to deliver consistent, evidence-based communication support even where NHS provision is stretched.

👉 Read the full story here:

  This article has been published as part of the Rethinking Curriculum project, kindly funded by The Helen Hamlyn Trust.         Kari Anson, Headteacher at Brays School, Forward Education Trust, UK Introduction Brays School is a special school in Birmingham serving 91 children with profound mul...

16/09/2025

Join us for a Makaton Taster session for just £17.50 + VAT.

The taster session is a fun, interactive workshop where you’ll learn up to 46 signs and symbols and have the chance to practise using them. It’s designed as an introduction to Makaton and is the perfect first step before moving on to a Level 1 Workshop.

Workshop Date:

🗓️ Thursday the 25th September 2025
🕰️ 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
💻 Delivered via online webinar

You'll receive:

- A copy of all the signs and symbol concepts used/taught during the session
- Handouts, including FAQs, sentence examples and an Action Plan
- A Certificate of Attendance

Book Here:

Anyone can apply to join a taster session, below. If you are interested in a bespoke taster session for a group of up to 15 persons, please get in touch with Elklan and we can discuss this with you further.

12/09/2025

✨ Every child has a voice, and every voice matters.

Supporting communication in the early years is not just about words. It’s about helping children with SEND feel understood, included, and confident to connect in their own way.

In this Spotlight Article for the SEND in Early Years Conference, Heather Price, Speech and Language Therapist at Elklan, shares practical strategies and neuro-affirming insights for professionals working with young children.

Read more here 👇 Childcare & Education Expo

When supporting children with SEND, one of the most powerful areas is communication, and how it lays the foundation for belonging, participation, and wellbeing.

03/09/2025

Has there been an increase in the number of children at your school/setting with speech, language, and communication needs?

Every child deserves the right support. The HLCP Award gives TAs and Early Years Practitioners the skills, confidence and recognition to lead on SLCN support across your setting.

✔️ A nationally recognised qualification
✔️ Practical, setting/school-focused learning
✔️ Stronger collaboration with SENCOs and SaLTs/SLCN services
✔️ Better outcomes for children with SLCN

📖 Read our blog to discover how HLCP is shaping schools and settings – and why October courses are filling up fast!
👇

The HLCP Award is helping schools and early years settings build lasting, communication-friendly environments. Find out what the award involves, why it matters, and hear directly from HLCPs and speech and language therapists about the difference it’s making for children, families and staff.

01/08/2025

Real Impact, Real Outcomes 🌟

When Jenna, a dedicated childminder from Littleborough, joined our Level 3 training, she didn’t expect it to help shape her Ofsted inspection. But just two weeks before the course ended, she was inspected - and received Outstanding in every area!

Read how Elklan helped Jenna boost her setting, support children’s speech and language, and shine in front of Ofsted.

📖 Read her story: https://elklan.co.uk/Blog/how_elklan_helped_one_childminder_acheive_outstanding_ofsted_results?eac=CC749DD9AF33F32E3ADC

📸 All images shared with permission from Jenna’s setting.

When Jenna signed up for Elklan’s CFHBS programme, she had no idea it would help shape her next Ofsted inspection. Find out how her training experience helped her achieve outstanding results and accelerate children's speech, language, and c

16/07/2025

🚨 Applications are open! 🚨

Teaching Assistants and Early Years Practitioners – the 2025/26 Higher Level Communication Practitioner (HLCP) Award is filling up fast.

The 2025/2026 cohort is open for booking – and places are filling quickly! Book now to secure your place.

✅ Gain a nationally recognised qualification
✅ Build skills to support children with SLCN
✅ Make a lasting impact in your setting

👉 Find out more and apply here: https://elklan.co.uk/HLCP/?eac=5A11EE09119332C67278