Easy read and translate
Supporting the use of language
- 1-5 Years
- 5-11 Years
- SEND
- Speech, language and communication
Speaking is how we use language. It means learning to say new words and joining them together to make sentences. Speaking can also include non-verbal communication, like gestures. As children develop, they learn more words and use longer, more complex sentences.
Parents and carers can use this information at home to support their child. Education staff can also use this information with children in their school or setting.
Please try these ideas and advice before making a referral to the Speech and Language Therapy Service.
Explore the topics on this page:
Understanding expressive language
Understanding expressive language
Expressing yourself is a complex process. It relies on lots of different skills, including:
- attention and listening
- understanding
- non-verbal communication
- social use of language
- motivation
Speaking involves:
- having words to describe objects, actions and attributes
- using words to build up sentences
- using sentences to build up conversations and stories
- following the rules of grammar
Speech and language therapists may refer to this area as ‘speaking’, ‘talking’ or ‘expressive language’. These terms mean how a child uses words, sentences, conversations and non-verbal communication.
Strategies to support expressive language
- Let the child lead: During play or in conversation, hold back and let the child take the lead. This will help you to see what interests them, and how they are communicating with you.
- Follow their interests: Watch and listen to what they are saying, playing with, or motivated by. This gives them time and space to think and communicate.
- Join in with what they are doing: Get involved in a child's play and conversations. This helps you to engage in their world and means they're more likely to want to communicate with you.
- Get down to the child’s level: Being face-to-face makes it easier to see messages we are giving each other. This helps to engage the child, shows them that you are interested and helps them to listen to you.
- Use non-verbal communication: Use gestures, pointing and change the intonation, pitch and tone of your voice. This can make play and chatting more exciting for the child. For example “Vroom vroom the car is coming!” or “Oh no! The car has skidded off the side of the road”.
- Model language: Comment on what the child is doing using short and simple comments. Children need to hear language in context for them to learn new words. It is important to model language, and comment on what is happening as it happens.
Last reviewed: 24 November, 2025
