The effectiveness of communication groups in day nurseries

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Early Childhood Education

Background:

• Communication difficulties in young children can impact overall development.
• Early intervention is crucial for addressing developmental concerns in preschool settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of joint play-based communication groups for children with communication concerns.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on formal and informal communication measures.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted in three inner-city day nurseries.
• Children with communication concerns were assigned to either an intervention (communication groups) or control group.
• Intervention groups were co-led by speech and language therapists and nursery staff, focusing on play-based communication strategies.

Main Results:

• Children in the communication groups showed significantly greater improvement compared to the control group on both formal and informal assessments.
• Key benefits included enhanced number and quality of interactions, improved task focus, and better knowledge of basic concepts.
• The intervention demonstrated positive effects on multiple facets of communication development.

Conclusions:

• Jointly delivered, play-based communication groups are effective in enhancing communication skills in preschool children.
• This intervention model shows promise for real-world application in early childhood settings.
• Targeted communication support can lead to significant developmental gains for children with identified concerns.