The challenge
How do you support communication needs when specialist provision is limited?
Speech, language, and communication needs are the most common form of SEND in the UK, and the demand for specialist speech and language therapy far outstrips supply. Schools and settings are often left managing significant communication needs with limited specialist support — wanting to help but uncertain whether their universal provision is truly meeting developmental needs.
Without a precise framework for understanding where communication has broken down and what to do about it, even well-intentioned support can miss the mark entirely.
The gap Launchpad identifies
Where communication development breaks down
Launchpad provides a detailed developmental map of the full continuum of communication skill development — from the very earliest stages of interaction and attention, through to complex expressive language, receptive understanding, and pragmatic communication skills. Practitioners can identify exactly where communication has broken down, what the child can do, and what the precise next developmental step is.
- Early attention, listening, and joint focus skills
- Receptive language — understanding words, sentences, and instructions
- Expressive language — building sentences and communicating ideas
- Vocabulary depth across nouns, verbs, and concepts
- Pragmatic skills — interaction, turn-taking, and social communication
- Early babble, sound play, and pre-verbal communication foundations
How Launchpad solves it
Assess → Identify → Build → Track
Step 1 — Assess
Establish the true starting point
Use age-related communication baselines to establish each child's actual level across attention, comprehension, expressive language, vocabulary, and pragmatic skills.
Step 2 — Identify
Find the precise gap
Pinpoint the specific communication skill gap — whether it is in receptive language, expressive language, vocabulary, pragmatics, or earlier foundational communication.
Step 3 — Build
Target and close the gap
Follow step-by-step skill guidance to develop each aspect of communication from the child's actual starting point, embedding targeted interactions into everyday practice.
Step 4 — Track
Evidence progress systematically
Monitor communication development to inform SALT referrals, EHCP applications, pupil progress reviews, and ongoing provision planning.
What's included for members
Everything you need in one place
- Communication and language baseline assessments (2+, 3+, 4+, 5+)
- Skill step guidance for receptive and expressive language development
- Vocabulary development tools — noun, verb, and concept checklists
- Pragmatic skills progression from early attention to complex social communication
- Guidance for bridging effectively between SALT appointments
- CPD resources to build whole-team confidence in communication support
Who this is for
Built for everyone supporting communication development
- SENCOs and speech and language leads
- EYFS and primary teachers with children presenting with communication delays
- Teaching assistants and support staff running communication intervention groups
- Leaders wanting to embed communication development into universal provision
Real impact
What schools are saying
“Launchpad for Literacy has been the key to success and every teacher is now confident and uses Launchpad every day.”
Deb Ward, Executive Headteacher – Northumberland
“
Launchpad has made us more aware of those incremental steps which children need to secure. It has helped more children to achieve GLD.
EYFS Lead, Ashley Academy, WISE Academies MAT – South Tyneside