TALK Derby, a major Government programme aimed at improving education and future job opportunities of local children, is inviting everyone across Derby to celebrate communication, speech and language on 1 July 2020. TALK Derby DAY is a chance for businesses, schools, colleges, nurseries, childminders and other organisations to organise activities that encourage face-to-face conversations – between adults and with children and young people.

Schools, colleges and early years settings also have the opportunity to win £250 to spend on supporting speech, language and communications development in their school or setting by sharing their TALK Derby Day event on TALK Derby’s social media channels. Businesses can nominate a city-based school, college or early years setting to receive the money.

City-based nursery, Derwent Stepping Stones, has already started making plans for TALK Derby DAY. Chief Executive, Janet Holland, said:

We are going to organise a ‘talk, walk’ with the children where they can explore the local area and talk about what they see. We’ll also be collecting things we find so we can talk more about our adventures when we return to the nursery. We also wanted to involve parents in the day and so we will be holding a teddy bear’s picnic at lunchtime in our forest garden.

Cllr Evonne Williams, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Derby City Council, said:

TALK Derby is fantastic initiative which encourages everyone to spend more time talking and listening to the children in the lives – which is vital to communication skills in adulthood. We are delighted to support TALK Derby day and hope that residents and businesses in the city will work together to help improve social mobility and language skills in children.

TALK Derby was launched last June with the aim of improving children’s social mobility by supporting development of their speech, language and communication skills. There are already clear signs of the positive impact it is having in the city. Over 300 professionals have been trained, and over 130 schools and early years settings are now running a range of activities to support children’s speech, language and communication development.

The programme is being co-ordinated by Leicester-based early years consultancy, Hempsall’s. Project Director, Kate Freeman said:

TALK Derby DAY is an opportunity for the whole city to get talking to each other and the children in their lives. Whether you’re in education, business, are a community group or other organisation, please save the date and let’s TALK Derby.

To help organisations plan for the day, a resource pack is available to download from the TALK Derby website along with posters to help promote events. The resource pack includes ideas for activities as well as information about how TALK Derby will be supporting the event on the day.

For a copy of the resource pack and more information about TALK Derby DAY visit the website.