Becky Poulter Jewson has over 25 years of experience working with children and families as a qualified early years lead and is the director of early years and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. She has led and developed teams of successful early years educators within children's centres and the private sector. Having owned her own nursery and pre-school, Becky has developed freeflow provision and language-rich learning environments throughout the country. Becky believes that empowering individuals to thrive and helping to create future generations is probably the best career in the world! She is a passionate advocate for early years and supports many further teaching and learning facilities.

Rebecca Skinner qualified as a speech and language therapist in 2001 and is the director of speech and language therapy and author for Thriving Language Community Interest Company. Alongside her work at Thriving Language, Rebecca works as a speech and language therapist for the NHS, specialising in early years and cleft palate. She is passionate about communication and interaction, and the role that the adult plays in the development of this. Rebecca believes that being able to communicate is a basic human right and we must respect all ways of communicating.

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Communication and Connection

Chapter 2 - Am I safe, Do I Matter, Do You Hear Me?

Chapter 3 - Speech, Language and Communication Needs

Chapter 4 - Creating Environments Where All Children Are Understood

Chapter 5 - Sharing the Love

Index