National Early Language and Communication (NELC)

​CBeebies Parenting Testimonial Video: Co-produced with the BBC, this video shares experiences of using CBeebies Parenting at Work to nurture early language and communication.

​This report covers the first phase of the NELC project, from October 2023 to September 2025 and describes activity and impact related to the following 5 project outcomes:

1. Increased understanding of shared responsibility for early SLC development across the system

2. Improved collaborative system-wide leadership of early speech, language and communication support

3. An early years’ workforce that is knowledgeable and confident in supporting speech, language and communication

4. Local decision making and planning is evidence-informed and utilises national and local data

5. Families receive consistent national messaging in relation to developing SLC

The report concludes with proposals around next steps and future connections aligned with the forthcoming National Early Years SLC Action Plan.

​This report from the Scottish Government Strategy & Insights Team describes engagement with parents and carers to help inform the development of the National Early Years Action Plan for Speech, Language and Communication.

The report describes an exploration of parents’ knowledge about and attitudes towards the development of their child’s speech, language and communication skills.  Parents were from low-income households in areas of social deprivation. They shared their views through focus groups and one in-depth interview.

​Early Speech Language and Communication (SLC) development is a critical foundation for children’s long-term outcomes in terms of recognised associations with later wellbeing and attainment.

This resource draws on evidence from the literature, exploring the early factors associated with better and poorer SLC outcomes. It is possible to draw conclusions about the factors associated with better and poorer SLC outcomes from the research, however, it is important to recognise that factors interact in a dynamic and unique fashion for individual families

You will find the complete resource at Which factors are associated with better and poorer SLC outcomes? | Early Speech, Language and Communication Development: Which Factors are Associated with Better or Poorer Outcomes?.

​The Early Language and Communication Leads met with key stakeholders from health and education in each local authority between November 2023 and February 2024. These conversations created the opportunity to talk about local context and data, existing effective practice, gaps and barriers to support, and opportunities and plans to improve support for early Speech Language and Communication (SLC) across the system

We are delighted to be able to share with you a draft report, summarising the national picture described during these conversation.

If you have any comments or questions about the report, please do not hesitate to contact us at edsearlylanguageleads@educationscotland.gov.scot.

​Quarterly updates on the work of the NELC project. The latest edition is first, with older issues further down the page.

Newsletter 7 - National Early Language and Communication (NELC) Project Newsletter 7

Newsletter 6 - National Early Language and Communication (NELC) Project Newsletter 6 

​The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (Scotland), with input from the NELC team, have produced two infographics outlining the scale of the current SLC crisis and the potential destructive and costly impact for long term life outcomes. Click on the link below to view the infographic. Please share this with anybody you think would be interesting in understanding more about SLC and the life course.