Early Years Speech and Language Interventions
The early years are one of the most important windows for language development. Children who start school without strong communication skills can struggle to access learning, build friendships and develop literacy - and while some do catch up, many carry those difficulties with them well into their school years.
The good news is that targeted support at this stage can make a significant difference. LINGO's Early Years interventions are designed to help practitioners identify children who need support and deliver structured, engaging language activities that fit naturally into the Early Years setting.
Our Early Years Language Interventions
LINGO offers two programmes for Early Years settings, each designed to be delivered by practitioners within the school or nursery. Both are evidence based and shaped by clinical experience.
Talking Time© is a universal oral language programme developed by University College London, University of Oxford and LINGO and currently undergoing independent evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF).
Chatterboxes is a targeted language intervention developed with schools and nurseries.
Talking Time
©
Talking Time© is a universal oral language programme for nursery-aged children, developed by University College London in partnership with the University of Oxford and LINGO. Talking Time© is designed for whole-group delivery - supporting all children in a setting to develop stronger oral language through high-quality conversations with practitioners.
The programme is currently undergoing independent evaluation by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), with results expected in July 2026.
What it involves
Children take part in two 15-minute small-group sessions per week, built around three structured activities.
Story Conversations
shared storytelling to develop comprehension, narrative and vocabulary
Word Play
games and role play to build vocabulary
Hexagons
creating and retelling stories to develop narrative skills
Professional development included
Talking Time© is not a resource pack - it's a programme that builds practitioner expertise. Staff receive support from a dedicated expert mentor throughout, including twilight workshops, in-class mentoring sessions and online mentoring for ongoing reflection. The aim is that practitioners finish the programme confident to continue and adapt the approach independently, benefiting future cohorts as well as the current year group.
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Register your interest
Talking Time© is available to new school cohorts in Autumn 2026 or Spring 2027. Places are limited at each intake, as every setting is supported throughout by a dedicated mentor. If you'd like to find out more:
Chatterboxes
Chatterboxes is a flexible language intervention developed by LINGO for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It was created in response to feedback from the schools and settings we work with - practitioners who needed a structured, adaptable programme to meet the varying language needs of their children.
What it works on
Chatterboxes target the core building blocks of early language: listening and attention, words and concepts, understanding and talking (including describing, explaining, questions, sentences and stories), play and interaction, and conversation in continuous provision.
The programme is particularly useful for children who:
Find it difficult to listen and concentrate
Have limited vocabulary or poor understanding
Struggle to form sentences or hold a conversation
Find interaction with others challenging
Are developing English as an additional language
How it works
Sessions run with individual children or small groups, lasting up to 15 minutes. Activities are hands-on and interactive, using books, toys and physical materials that are all included in the programme. Little and often is the most effective approach - at least three times a week.
Activities are built around two themed collections, each linking to familiar Early Years curriculum topics:
Chatterboxes 1:
Me and My World
Everyday experiences including food and drink, family, getting dressed and bedtime.
Chatterboxes 2: Animal Adventure
The natural world including animals, habitats and weather.
The two work well together, giving settings a full year of structured language support that broadens children's vocabulary and confidence as they progress.