Easy read and translate
Communication Champions
- Professionals and Clinicians
- Training and workshops
- Speech, language and communication
Suitable for staff working in mainstream schools across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton supporting children from Reception to Year 6.
Communication Champions are passionate about speech, language and communication in children. A Communication Champion is the main point of contact in their workplace for all things speech, language and communication.
Teaching staff and assistants working in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton primary, lower and middle schools 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.
New for 2026 to 2027: We are delighted to extend the Communication Champion programme to primary schools in Luton. This expansion builds on the programme's success across Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire and provides Luton schools with a dedicated local training offer.
Aim of this course
- Become a Communication Champion!
- Identify children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
- Learn strategies and develop activities to help children'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
About the Communication Champion course
The Communication Champion course is a comprehensive evidence-based course. It is accredited by The CPD Certification Service, ensuring schools can be confident that Communication Champions are gaining high-quality, externally verified professional development. A Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and a SEND Adviser 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'.
Over 80% of Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire primary, lower and middle schools have already accessed this training, with more than 400 Communication Champions trained across the area. We are excited to welcome Luton schools to the programme from 2026-27.
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 a 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 5 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.
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.
The 2025-26 feedback indicated:
296% increase in confidence in supporting specific SLCN like social skill difficulties, receptive and expressive language issues, speech sound errors and stammering
100% rated the training as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’
By session 5, 100% of participants had already shared learning with their colleagues
“Excellent training to help any practitioner understand the different areas of speech and language and how you can assess and support children”
“Provided us with a lot of relevant information and practical skills to better equip us in supporting our children”
“As an experienced SENCO and Deputy Head, I went in with reservations, but I came out with a wealth of knowledge."
"This training is the perfect blend of theory and 'boots-on-the-ground' practice."
"It has empowered me to overhaul our school’s provision, sharpen our identification of SLCN, and lead a more strategic, whole-school approach."
"I highly recommend it to any leader looking to make a genuine impact on pupil outcomes."
Booking information
- Schools are encouraged to book places within their local area; however, a small number of spaces are available for staff to attend sessions outside their school’s locality where this better meets their needs. Courses are available in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.
- The course will be delivered over 5 training sessions. You will need to be able to attend all the sessions in a term.
- You will be provided with course materials.
- Cancellation or changes to participants needs to be provided to our team 48 hours before the course starts. Non-attendance or late cancellation (cancelling in less than 48 hours) will be charged a penalty fee (see booking form for details).
- If you need to cancel, or make any amendments, email eec.beds.childrens.slt.training@nhs.net
Autumn term 2026
You will need to be able to attend all the sessions in a term.
These sessions will be 9am to 3:15pm.
Bedford Borough dates
- Tuesday, 22 September 2026
- Tuesday 6 October 2026
- Tuesday 20 October 2026
- Tuesday 10 November 2026
- Tuesday 24 November 2026
This course will be held at Borough Hall.
Central Bedfordshire dates - Fully booked
- Monday 28 September 2026
- Monday 12 October 2026
- Monday 19 October 2026
- Monday 9 November 2026
- Monday 23 November 2026
Days 1 and 5 will be held at Priory House, Chicksands.
Days 2, 3 and 4 will be held at Flitwick Football Club.
Spring term 2027
You will need to be able to attend all the sessions in a term.
These sessions will be 9am to 3:15pm.
Central Bedfordshire dates
- Tuesday 19 January 2027
- Tuesday 2 February 2027
- Tuesday 23 February 2027
- Tuesday 9 March 2027
- Tuesday 23 March 2027
This course will be held at Priory House, Chicksands.
Luton dates
- Thursday 14 January 2027
- Thursday 28 January 2027
- Thursday 11 February 2027
- Thursday 25 February 2027
- Thursday 11 March 2027
This course will be held at Irish Forum, Luton.
Book a place
Last reviewed: 8 May, 2026
