Level 4 - Communication Friendly Award

The vision for Stoke Speaks Out is that Stoke-on-Trent will become a place where children are confident communicators, able to take advantage of health, education and employment opportunities. To acheive this vision, it is vital that all environments that come into contact with children fulfil their role in nurturing communication development.

The Level 4 Communication Friendly Award is designed to assist settings and services to fulfil this role. It is also acknowledge the contribution they make in their daily practice.

Achievement of the Award is an endorsement of a setting's or service's capacity to support the development of all children's communication skills.

The benefits of engaging in this process are:

• Access to support for improving and sustaining practice around attachment for communication
• Training opportunities
• Accreditation
• Recognition for areas of excellence in attachment and communication practice
• Use of the Stoke Speaks Out "Communication Friendly" accreditation logo as a quality mark
• Celebration through a wall plaque, conference and certificates
• Marketing and publicity

To change the picture of support for communication in Stoke-on-Trent, it is essential that best practice be shared. By receiving the accreditation, Stoke Speaks Out will recommend your setting as an example of best practice and may request permission to share information to assist others, for example via the Stoke Speaks Out website.