Children taking part in the wellie throwing activity as part of the project awarded an Inspire Mark
An innovative project helping children develop their communication skills has been awarded an Inspire mark by Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers.
The Every Child a Talker Communication Decathlon, run by Surrey County Council, is available to more than 2,000 nurseries, playgroups, childminders and other children’s groups across the county to help youngsters under five years old develop their language skills.
The project encourages children to work together and develop their speech, language and listening abilities through fun activities, including wellie throwing and paper plane flying.
The project is the fifth run by Surrey County Council to win an Olympic Inspire mark. Others to receive the accolade were the Surrey School Games 100 days of Sport, the international flag exchange, a sport history project and a series of business events aimed at getting Surrey firms to benefit from the 2012 Games.
Setting the world record for the most people to form the Olympic rings was one of Surrey County Council projects to awarded an Inspire mark.
Tim Hall, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, said: “In the first five years of a child’s life they learn more about speaking and words than at any other time. A child’s vocabulary at five can be a strong predictor of GCSE achievement as a teenager. By developing their language skills now we’re laying strong foundations for success later in life.”
Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games, said: “Inspire marks are awarded to exceptional projects that use the Olympic and Paralympic Games as an inspiration to create something truly special, with a legacy that goes on long after the final medal has been won. I hope these five projects will be among many in Surrey to receive this accolade.”
Lord Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “The Inspire programme is ensuring the legacy of the 2012 Games starts now as projects like the Surrey ECAT Communication Decathlon are enabling people in Surrey to make positive life changes.”
Each month for the 10 months leading up to the London 2012 Games, Surrey County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service will email an Every Child a Talker Communication Decathlon task to more than 2,000 nurseries, childminders, playgroups and other children’s groups.
The tasks range from the shot put, which sees children finding out how far they can throw a wellie, to javelin, where they find out how far they can throw a paper plane. The tasks have been specifically designed to help develop the language and communication skills of under fives.
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For more information contact Surrey County Council senior media relations officer Kevin Richardson on 0208 541 72767 or email kevin.richardson@surreycc.gov.uk
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