References and further reading recommendations from the NELC team
(updated 12th November 2025)
Speech, Language and Communication in the Scottish context
“Speech, language and communication development among children in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic: Whole System Approach” Public Health Scotland, 2023
“Parents’ Experiences and Views on Supporting Early Learning and Development (at Home)” (Save the Children, 2023)
“Equity for all: Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Services in Scotland” Marie Gascoigne, 2021
Taking a public health approach to SLC concerns
“Creating the conditions for robust early language development for all – Part 1: Evidence-informed child language surveillance in the early years” by Sheena Rielly and Cristina McKean (2023)
“Creating the conditions for robust early language development for all – Part 2: Evidence informed public health framework for child language in the early years” by Cristina McKean and Sheena Reilly (2023)
Language and Communication Supportive Environment
“How can we create a Language and Communication Supportive Environment in Early Learning and Childcare Settings?” (NELC team and Education Scotland, 2025)
“One in five children in child care spends most of the day in language isolation”
This blog post from LENA (a US nonprofit organisation) summarises data from day-long audio recordings of over 15,000 children in the USA.
“LENA | Every interaction counts: research on conversational turns”
The LENA grow and LENA start programmes are not available in Scotland. However, the principles of their evidence-based approach can be applied without use of their talk-pedometer technology.
Advice and guidance
The Voice of the Infant: best practice guidelines and infant pledge on the Scottish Government website
Speech, Language and Communication: Giving Children the Best Possible Start in Life (Supporting the Learning Experiences of Health Visitors and Family Nurses) NHS Education for Scotland
“Growing my potential: promoting safe, responsive, nurturing care and learning experiences and environments for babies and young children aged 1 and 2 years.” Care Inspectorate, 2023
Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood: The Explainer Series
“a series of animated films explaining brain development in early childhood, and how interaction between babies, young children and caring adults can make a positive difference to their social and emotional development”
These videos are accompanied by a practitioner guide and a series of science briefings. If you only have time to watch one, watch film four “back and forth interactions”
These guidelines include advice on screentime for children under 5 and have been adopted by the Scottish Government.
