Oracy

Elklan Language Training
Elklan runs a range of courses for staff working
with pupils of different ages and with different
language and communication needs, and we
spoke to interviewees in three schools who say
they use the training to upskill teachers and
senior leaders who, in turn, can then support
their colleagues.
Sara Avenell is Head of the Early Years and Key
Stage 1 at Brookside School, a special school in
Tilehurst, which supports pupils aged between 2 and
19 with profound and multiple learning difficulties,
severe learning difficulties, moderate learning
difficulties, and visual and hearing impairments.
Sara leads Elklan training in her school.
The school’s motivation for using the training was a
desire to improve consistency and appropriateness
of communication across the board.
“It is a fantastic training package for
training our staff about communicating with
children with additional needs. It matches
theory together with practice, [looking] at
the principles behind communication but
also practical strategies to help staff in the
classroom”
Sara Avenell, Head of Early Years and Key Stage 1
The training covers verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. At Brookside School
training takes place weekly after school, throughout the year. Sara explains that while her
school is adapting the training to suit its specific needs, Elklan predominantly works with
mainstream schools.
Sara emphasises that the training is just one part of her school’s communication provision,
and that it is also reviewing its curriculum, introducing communication passports outlining
pupils’ needs, and school-wide vocabulary pupils can use to communicate with all staff.
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