Luton Elklan courses

This course is for professionals only

Elklan is a speech, language and communication course for education professionals. When you complete the course, you will become a Communication Champion for your school.

Communication Champions are passionate about speech, language and communication in children and young people. A Communication Champion is the main point of contact in their workplace for all things speech, language and communication.

In Luton, primary school and secondary school teaching staff and assistants can become Communication Champions. It’s a great opportunity to ensure that the children in your school are getting the help and support they need.

Aim of this course

Become a Communication Champion!
Identify children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
Learn strategies and develop activities to help children and young people's speech, language and communication in your place of work
Recognise when further support is needed
Act as a point of contact for your colleagues
Act as a point of contact for speech and language therapists
Act as a point of contact for parents by championing speech, language and communication for all children and young people

About the Communication Champion course

The Communication Champion course is a comprehensive evidence-based course. A Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and a SENS Advisor will deliver the training.

The course includes:

up to date information on SLCN for universal and targeted levels of need
guidance on how to appropriately refer children for specialist support
tools to help promote speech, language and communication development

Once you have completed the course, you will be recognised as a 'Communication Champion'.

Every mainstream school in Luton has the opportunity to attend Elklan training. Over 75% of Luton schools have now accessed the training. There are over 170 Communication Champions across the borough.

The role of a communication champion

Communication Champions will:

be able to identify and support children with SLCN
develop activities and strategies to help children’s communication and language skills and bring the best practice approach for communication and language
make appropriate referrals when specialist support is needed
promote speech, language and communication development for all students in their school
share and implement knowledge, skills and tools with other members of staff
keep up to date with their knowledge of speech, language and communication

Communication Champion teams

A Communication Champion team is the group of trained Communication Champions. Communication Champion teams are used in school settings.

Schools who have not yet completed the course must send:

a SENCo or member of senior leadership
2 other staff members, ideally a teacher and teaching assistant

All staff must attend all days of training.

We encourage schools who already have Communication Champions to grow your team and replace any champions who have left your school.

For schools with over 100 pupils we recommend that there are at least 3 Communication Champions in a team. This will usually be a SENDCo, a teacher and teaching assistant.

For schools with less 100 pupils, you may have a smaller Communication Champion team.

Schools with a Communication Champion team can apply for the Communication Friendly Award.

Training

Become a Communication Champion by attending one of our Communication Champion training courses. The training you do as a Communication Champion will contribute towards your continuing personal development (CPD).

The course is delivered by a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and a SENS Advisor. You will be provided with course materials.

Dates and booking information for Spring 2025/2026 coming soon

Course feedback

Don't just take our word for it, our Communication Champions can speak for themselves!

Our courses have helped professionals feel more confident identifying, discussing and supporting SLCN.

157% increase in confidence across key areas like identifying and describing SLCN, discussing SLCN with parents and sharing knowledge with colleagues

95% rated the training as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’

Before the end of the course, 91% of participants had already shared learning with their colleagues

164% increase in confidence in supporting specific SLCN like social skill difficulties, receptive and expressive language issues, speech sound errors and stammering

“Very informative on understanding how children’s skills can differ, and different ways to support them”

“The knowledge and strategies shared in this course would be beneficial for all staff whatever their role”

Luton Elklan course