TalkAbout Talk Secondary

Intervention description

A targeted intervention that helps pupils aged 14 to 18 with poor communication skills to be ready for the work place. TalkAbout Talk Secondary consists of a series of 13 fully planned one-hour lessons delivered by trained teaching or support staff.

Pupils learn and practice the communication skills that support other ‘soft’ employability skills such as team working, time management and problem-solving.

Pupils work towards co-delivering workshops about communication skills to an audience in their school and then to local businesses. Workshops help pupils apply these skills and a range of tools help them reflect on their progress throughout the lessons.

Professional development

Training is available for Teachers, Teaching Assistants and Special Education Needs Coordinators who will deliver the intervention.

The one-day training course provides background on speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) as well as providing full details and materials to deliver the lessons and workshops. Training is delivered on-site in school.

As part of the training course participants will receive:

• An intervention manual containing detailed lesson plans.
• Access to the Talk for Work Profile to monitor pupil progress and print reports.
• Online presentations and specifically designed films to support all lessons
• Printed pupil workbooks to help them reflect on and apply the skills they are learning.
• Additional online materials to organise and run the communication workshops for audiences.

Evidence Summary

TalkAbout Talk Secondary has not been included in any systematic reviews into the effectiveness of educational programmes.