Building Early Sentence Therapy (BEST) – Listen to Learn

The Building Early Sentences Therapy programme (BEST) is a language intervention programme for children with language difficulties. It involves Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) and early years professionals working in collaboration.

While BEST is free to use and the manual, all the forms, homework packs etc. are provided free of charge, we recommend that you access the training because the BEST approach is radically different from other language interventions in the way it is delivered.

Our training packages are designed to support productive and effective collaborative working between Speech and Language Therapists and practitioners in early years and school settings. (Children Age 3-6).  Speech and Language Therapists who have accessed the training with us can, should they wish, subscribe to our BEST for Settings resource package.

About BEST

Researchers from Newcastle University and The University of Manchester have devised a language therapy programme based on how children acquire language skills. The researchers wanted the programme to be practical and evidence-based. BEST is:

• Low dosage – two 15-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks
• Effective – the children receiving the BEST programme not only improved their language skills but continued to make gains afterwards (Jack, et al. 2024)
• Group-based – BEST can be delivered in small groups of up to 6 children
• Play-based – toys are used to help children acquire language skills
• Available to all – Adaptations in Languages Other Than English (LOTE) are available, including Mirpuri, Sylheti and Polish, and the programme is suitable for adaption into other languages.

The BEST programme has been extensively trialled in children’s speech and language therapy services, early years and school settings.

Who is BEST for?

Children aged 3 years to 6 years who have language difficulties and find it difficult to understand and/or say spoken sentences with 2-, 3- and 4-part phrases such as:

• The girl is laughing (2)
• The man is kicking a ball (3)
• The boy is giving a banana to the baby (4)

Children’s understanding and expression interact, so children often learn the vocabulary as they progress through the programme. No pre-learning of vocabulary is required.

How does it work?

Children listen to the target spoken sentences while seeing toys act out the matching actions. Children in the group listen to learn and are not required to say anything. The children are then given an opportunity to describe a similar action. Children are not asked to repeat spoken sentences.

Is the BEST programme suitable for all children?

• Building Early Sentences Therapy is not an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme. Children who speak their home language well do not need additional help to learn English and should not be considered to have a language difficulty. Children with difficulties in their home language(s) (as well as English, or Welsh in Wales) would be suitable for a home language version of BEST but should not be placed in an English-medium BEST group.
• BEST requires children to have foundation skills for language acquisition including shared attention, pattern spotting and other related skills. This means that some children are unlikely to benefit from the Building Early Sentences Therapy programme. For example, children with social communication skills needs may respond better to other interventions. Children with learning needs may benefit from the BEST programme but are likely to make slower progress than other children. All children are unique. Therefore, a thorough initial assessment session and eligibility assessment carried out by a Speech and Language Therapist should be undertaken. This will establish if Building Early Sentences Therapy or another intervention is more suitable to meet the child’s needs.

What is the evidence to support BEST?

Building Early Sentences Therapy (BEST) was compared to an adapted version of the Derbyshire Language Scheme (A-DLS) in a recent randomised control trial (RCT). This research programme was led by Professor Cristina McKean and is known as LIVELY. You can access a list of publications on the RCT here:  https://research.ncl.ac.uk/lively/publications/

The results of the RCT showed that children who received Building Early Sentences Therapy made significant progress with their language skills and continued to improve. BEST effectively ‘kick starts’ children’s language development.

How does the speech and language therapy/ setting partnership work?

• Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) access BEST training
• The SLTs will either cascade the principles or, refer early years staff to our BEST for Settings self-study module
• A Speech and Language Therapist assesses children who may benefit from the BEST intervention
• The setting team gathers together the required toys and delivers the therapy. BEST will not work through picture-only-based delivery
• Partners review outcomes and agree the onward schedule for BEST

	Book and pay online Card payments only	Organisational payment Invoice or quote required	Student / Returner Card payments only
Course Price Per Person	£132	£154	£77

Please book your place here or alternatively, you can contact us if you are you would like to:

• Book four or more courses (we can offer you a discount)
• Make a block booking for a group
• Book a closed course

Speech and Language Therapist Training

Part 1 – self-study

• The underpinning research and principles of BEST
• The signing used with BEST –  Pre course reference and practice sets
• The alternative versions and adaptations available for BEST

Part 2 – 3.5 hours tutor-led (Zoom)

A practical focus with top tips and practical activities ensures confidence in all aspects of the approach:

• Candidate selection for BEST – helping settings get this right
• Design and delivery of the assessment session – how to make this a collaboration with setting teams
• Design and delivery of the therapy sessions – helping you and your partner settings get this right
• Record keeping – meaningful recording for settings and parent(s)/carers
• Homework – using the homework packs that are available for parent(s)/carers to work with their children between sessions
• Settings cascade pack/ BEST for settings self-study module.  Options for your settings.

BEST for settings – Course Beetle self-study module (OR – this may be available as a face-to-face session,  delivered in your setting by your Speech and Language Therapist

• Candidate selection for BEST – getting this right
• Design and delivery of the assessment session – what the SLT is assessing, and what the findings mean for settings
• Design and delivery of the therapy sessions – getting this right
• Record keeping – sharing results with parent(s)/carers
• Homework – using the available homework packs for parent(s)/carers to work with their children between sessions

This course is suitable for: Early Years Practitioners, Returners to Speech and Language Therapy, Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs), Speech and Language Therapy Assistants, Speech Pathologists

BEST training is differentiated to meet the needs of Speech and Language Therapists and EYFS educators.

Settings who would like to implement BEST need to request collaborative support from a Speech and Language Therapist who will access BEST training and undertake the assessments.

This course is available on various dates throughout the year. To view available course dates, select your preferred date and book your place, please click here.

During the booking process, you can select to reserve a place instead (while you confirm you can attend or to organise payment through your employer for example). We can hold your place for up to four weeks, if we have not heard from you after this time, we may need to cancel your reservation so other people can attend the training.

Course Beetle is an approved supplier for NHS Trusts, Local Authorities and Schools.