{"id":648,"date":"2017-03-01T11:29:20","date_gmt":"2017-03-01T11:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/?page_id=648"},"modified":"2025-12-15T15:53:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T15:53:59","slug":"language-communication-friendly-environment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/language-communication-friendly-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Language &amp; Communication Friendly Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Our ability to use language lies at the centre of development and the expression of our emotions, our thinking, our learning, and our sense of personal identity -Curriculum for Excellence<\/p>\n<p>The Language and Communication Friendly Establishment (LCFE) fits with the Scottish Attainment Challenge intervention approach based on effective self-evaluation and improvement planning, including robust measures of impact and progress.<\/p>\n<p>Please watch the video below which gives information on the rationale for creating a Language and Communication Friendly Environment and the indicators that will guide the LCFE self-evaluation journey.<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 840px;\" class=\"wp-video\"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<video class=\"wp-video-shortcode\" id=\"video-648-1\" width=\"840\" height=\"472\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"video\/mp4\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2020\/10\/29115103\/LCFE_overview_480p.mp4?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2020\/10\/29115103\/LCFE_overview_480p.mp4\">https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2020\/10\/29115103\/LCFE_overview_480p.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n<p>For more information on the literature which informed LCFE and the background to how it was developed please see <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2024\/02\/09144317\/LCFE-glasgows-journey.docx\">Glasgow&#8217;s LCFE journey document<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"line-height: 1.21739\"><strong>The LCFE key indicators framework<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23163924\/LCFE-policy-front-cover.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3161 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23163924\/LCFE-policy-front-cover-219x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23163924\/LCFE-policy-front-cover-219x300.png 219w, https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23163924\/LCFE-policy-front-cover.png 619w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 219px) 85vw, 219px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/lcfe-training-powerpoint\/2-the-language-and-communication-friendly-establishment-policy-guidelines-august-2025\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-3226\">The Language and Communication Friendly Establishment Policy Guidelines (August 2025)<\/a> is the main document for supporting the self-evaluation and implementation of LCFE through use of 5 key indicators which form the basis of supportive practice:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162948\/LCFE-indicator-1-icon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3158 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162948\/LCFE-indicator-1-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"166\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a>Indicator 1:<\/strong> A calm, welcoming and predictable <strong>Physical Environment<\/strong> that enhances opportunities for language and communication experiences for all children (What It Looks Like)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162946\/LCFE-indicator-2-icon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3157 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162946\/LCFE-indicator-2-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"103\" \/><\/a>Indicator 2: Adult Talk<\/strong> that encourages and promotes participation from all learners (What You Say)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162945\/LCFE-indicator-3-icon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3156 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162945\/LCFE-indicator-3-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"111\" \/><\/a>Indicator 3: Adult Relational Styles<\/strong> that are responsive and nurturing to children\u2019s social and emotional needs (How You Are)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162945\/LCFE-indicator-4-icon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3155 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162945\/LCFE-indicator-4-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"133\" \/><\/a>Indicator 4: <\/strong>Creating <strong>Supportive Learning Experiences<\/strong> to develop language and communication skills (Help It Happen)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162944\/LCFE-indicator-5-icon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3154 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2025\/09\/23162944\/LCFE-indicator-5-icon.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"171\" height=\"90\" \/><\/a>Indicator 5: <\/strong>A strong commitment to ongoing <strong>Staff Reflection and Development<\/strong>, promoting language and communication for all children (Taking It Forward)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>LCFE links to 2 KEY NURTURE PRINCIPLES:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Language is a vital means of communication<\/li>\n<li>All behaviour is communication<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2023\/11\/08111842\/Appendix-2-LCFE-Flyer-updated-2023.pdf\">LCFE Flyer<\/a>\u00a0provides an overview of the process including information on how to get started.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MENTORING AND SUPPORT <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mentoring and support from key health and education practitioners is a core component of this framework. A mentor could be the Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Therapist.<\/p>\n<p>The role of the mentor, in partnership with establishment&#8217;s LCFE implementation team, is to support and encourage practitioners to manage their own learning and skill development.\u00a0 The mentor will also help staff think about how to achieve the priorities identified in self-evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>This is done through the use of reflective tools and discussions to consider how to make reasonable adjustments to the learning environment (based on the 5 LCFE Indicators) in order to support speech, language and communication development.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE VALIDATION AND ACCREDITATION PROCESS <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a four- part process:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ol>\n<li>Self-Evaluation Framework and Action Plan (as part of establishment Improvement Plan)<\/li>\n<li>Engagement with coaching and mentoring process<\/li>\n<li>Validated self-evaluation \u2013 supportive visit by LCFE validation team (QIO, SLT\/ EP and peer head)<\/li>\n<li>Follow-up validation every 3 years \u2013 discussion with link EP\/SLT<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>LCFE validated establishments make significantly more use of the evidence-based strategies that speech and language therapist and educational psychologist advise (as evidenced in the recent SLT\/ Education Review exercise). They seek more consultation with SLT prior to referring an individual child. Non-validated establishments seek more support than validated. Establishments that are validated use more approaches.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1813\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1813\" style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1813 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/public\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/uploads\/sites\/4587\/2020\/10\/08170234\/LCFE-Feedback-pic.png\" alt=\"Image shows feedback from inspections and a primary head teacher. It includes a photo of 6 children in front of a board with visual supports.\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1813\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Feedback: &#8220;I am so so proud of everyone at our school and the clear difference our LCFE journey has made to so many, if not all, of our learners!&#8221; Primary Head Teacher. &#8220;The nursery had been accredited as a communication and language aware service and had very good ways of supporting children and families.&#8221; Inspection Report.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A Focus Group in 2019 with Heads from validated establishments found positive impacts on children and young people, staff, parents and the wider school. For a summary of the findings please see the LCFE focus group summary evaluation on our <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/research\/\">research page<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our ability to use language lies at the centre of development and the expression of our emotions, our thinking, our learning, and our sense of personal identity -Curriculum for Excellence The Language and Communication Friendly Establishment (LCFE) fits with the Scottish Attainment Challenge intervention approach based on effective self-evaluation and improvement planning, including robust measures &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/language-communication-friendly-environment\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Language &amp; Communication Friendly Environment&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51909,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-648","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51909"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=648"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3229,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/648\/revisions\/3229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/glowblogs\/glasgowpsychologicalservice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}