About the Early Years Commitment

About the Early Years Commitment

The Early Years Commitment is divided into five areas, to help you address every aspect of communication development across your early years setting. It’s based on what we know works in nurseries, pre-schools, childminding settings and Children's Centres. The five areas are:

1. Leadership
2. Workforce Development
3. Communication-Friendly Settings
4. Supporting Children with SLCN
5. Engagement with Parents, Families and and Other Early Years Professionals

Each area has suggested actions – straightforward and achievable – to move your setting forward with early language support. You’ll choose one from each area to create your own Action Plan and make your Early Years Commitment.

Once you’ve completed these actions, you may want to take it further. You can do this by returning to the suggested actions and choosing five more to work towards, by working directly with our specialist expert partners, through consultancy or training, programmes of work or moving onto full accreditation.

Whether the ideas and activities are new for your setting or you already have lots in place, the Early Years Commitment can help you get to where you want to be.

Why should you commit to communication?

Here are five great reasons to sign up and commit to communication:

1. Because early language is the foundation for learning and attainment and is embedded in the EYFS and the Ofsted Framework.
2. Because strong language skills and communication skills are linked to school readiness and better outcomes for children and young people in school and beyond.
3. Because understanding more about typical language development and communication will help you to better identify and support children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
4. Because your setting will be part of a national initiative, you will get support from experts and a chance to share good practice.
5. Because other early years providers have found the Early Years Commitment a useful way to drive whole setting improvement.

Downloads

Early Years Commitment Handbook

Early Years Commitment Progress Journal

Early Years Commitment Review Checklist