The Norfolk Early Years Podcast
The Norfolk Early Years Podcast
Podcast Description
🎧 Welcome to the Norfolk Early Years Podcast - Let’s Talk Series! This podcast is designed to support early years practitioners and professionals in understanding more about how to effectively nurture children’s speech, language, and communication development in the early years.Each term, we’ll be joined by a variety of knowledgeable guest speakers, each specializing in different areas of communication and language. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of topics, deepening our knowledge and understanding of speech and language pedagogy and practice.✨ What to expect:o A deep dive into a broad range of communication and language-related subjectso Practical tips and insights into supporting children’s communication and language development.o The opportunity to join us at our termly Communication Hub Meetings, where you can discuss how to apply the podcast’s key concepts in your own setting. These interactive meetings are also a great opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and ask specific speech and language-related questions to our early years and speech and language colleagues.🌟 Want to join us? To book your spot at a Communication Hub Meeting, please click here.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various themes such as oracy development, the link between physical development and communication skills, and inclusive teaching strategies. Episode topics include practical strategies for enhancing oracy in early childhood education, the significance of the vestibular system in speech development, and how to create language-rich environments for children with diverse communication needs.
🎧 Welcome to the Norfolk Early Years Podcast – Let’s Talk Series! This podcast is designed to support early years practitioners and professionals in understanding more about how to effectively nurture children’s speech, language, and communication development in the early years.
Each term, we’ll be joined by a variety of knowledgeable guest speakers, each specializing in different areas of communication and language. Together, we’ll explore a wide range of topics, deepening our knowledge and understanding of speech and language pedagogy and practice.
✨ What to expect:
o A deep dive into a broad range of communication and language-related subjects
o Practical tips and insights into supporting children’s communication and language development.
o The opportunity to join us at our termly Communication Hub Meetings, where you can discuss how to apply the podcast’s key concepts in your own setting. These interactive meetings are also a great opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, share ideas, and ask specific speech and language-related questions to our early years and speech and language colleagues.
🌟 Want to join us? To book your spot at a Communication Hub Meeting, please click here.
In episode 5, we are delighted to be joined by Dr Sue Allingham. Sue is an early years consultant, trainer and speaker, renowned for her work on emotional literacy and early years transitions.
Join us for a thought-provoking conversation, as we explore what we mean by the term ‘emotional literacy’, how emotionally supportive environments can positively impact children’s well-being and the vital role that early years practitioners play in modelling emotional language, building trusting connections and helping all children feel seen.
Whether you’re looking to better support children’s emotional well-being, deepen your understanding of emotional literacy, or discover practical strategies for everyday practice, this episode will inspire you to reflect and strengthen the way you nurture children’s emotional development in your setting.
👂 If you’re a Norfolk early years practitioner or professional, and you enjoyed this conversation, we’d love for you to join us at one of our upcoming Summer Communication Hub Meetings, beginning on 29th June 2026. 👉 Click here for more details.
Overview
(0:00) Introduction
(1:07) Sue’s background and current role
(4:25) What do we mean by the term emotional literacy?
(8:23) Emotional comfort and empathy
(9:30) Emotional literacy and the EYFS framework
(11:20) Expression and brain development through ages and stages
(17:47) The knock on effect of not building emotional literacy skills
(23:25) Trust and the key person approach
(24:04) The effects of SLCN on emotional development
(27:37) The role of the emotional and physical environment
(31:16) Including children in planning and changes
(32:33) Challenging rigidity and ‘the timetable’
(36:13) The link between physicality and emotional literacy
(39:13) What quick change can practitioners make tomorrow?
(42:54) Modelling language and responding to childrens need
(45:15) Dysregulation and helping children feel seen
(50:15) Calming strategies and mindfulness
(53:28) Supporting your teams’ strengths and weaknesses
(59:47) Growth mindset and emotional literacy
(1:06:25) Questions for practitioners
1. Why this?
2. Why now?
3. Why these children?
And then..
1. What?
2. Why?
3. How?
(1:08:32) The Summer 2026 Norfolk Communication Hubs – Sign up now!
Disclaimer
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