Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Supporting Tiny Talkers in Rotherham

A friendly home for families and early years staff across Rotherham — practical help with talking, listening, playing and growing in the first five years.

Whether you’re a parent looking for everyday ideas or a practitioner looking for training, you’re in the right place.

Two ways in

Choose your starting point

Tiny Talkers focuses on speech, language and communication. Tiny Talkers + covers the day-to-day skills and understanding you need.

Speech, language & communication

Tiny Talkers

Rotherham’s early years speech and language programme. Friendly advice for parents on what to expect, things to try at home, and where to turn if you’re worried — plus a free, structured training pathway for early years staff and childminders.

For parents & carers • For practitioners

Everyday parent guides

Tiny Talkers +

Eleven topic-by-topic guides covering the everyday stuff of life with under-fives — play, food, sleep, behaviour, getting active, screen time, starting school. Each one is short, kind and full of links to local Rotherham support.

Eleven topics • Written for parents

What’s inside Tiny Talkers

Two audiences, one programme

For parents & carers

Reassuring guides on what your child’s talking might look like at each stage, simple things to try at home, and clear steps to take if you’ve got concerns.

* What to expect when
* Top tips
* Things to try at home with your Tiny Talker
* What’s on in Rotherham?
* Concerns about your child’s speech, language & communication
* Find out more

For early years professionals

A free, structured training pathway delivered with Elklan, plus practical tools for supporting EAL learners and identifying communication needs in your setting.

* Training pathway
* English as an Additional Language (EAL)
* Concerns about a child’s speech, language & communication
* Useful links and websites
* Social media & marketing pack

What’s inside Tiny Talkers +

Eleven everyday topics

Pick whatever’s on your mind today.

Play and learning

Why play matters and how to fold it into the day.

Food and nutrition

Feeding from milk to family meals — and fussy phases.

Oral health

Brushing, dummies and that first dentist trip.

Developing independence

Coats, shoes, helping out — building little doers.

Sleep

What’s normal, what helps, and when to get support.

Parent & carer self-care

Looking after you, so you can look after them.

Emotions and behaviour

Big feelings, tantrums and how to ride the waves.

Home learning and PEEP

Sing, share a book, join a local PEEP group.

Being active

Wriggle, walk, run — building little movers.

Screen time and online safety

Healthy habits and safety from the very first swipe.

Ready, steady, school

Getting ready for the big move into reception.

A Rotherham Council initiative

Need to talk to someone?

Whether you’d like to find your nearest Family Hub, ask a question about your child’s communication, or book onto a Tiny Talkers training session — we’re here to help.