the oTTer
project
Outcomes of Talking Together: Evaluation and Results
WHAT IS TALKING TOGETHER?
Talking Together is a programme delivered to parents to support language development in children aged 2-3 years. BHT Early Education and Training originally developed the programme, and have been delivering it in Bradford for 12 years. It consists of 6 sessions delivered weekly to families in their homes by specialist Language Development Workers. Each session provides information and practical support on how to best support young children's language and communication skills, and covers a range of topics including types of communication, turn taking, praise, and the importance of imaginative play.
Currently Talking Together is commissioned by Better Start Bradford, and is available in the BSB areas of Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor, and Little Horton.
​
Click Below to find out more about BHT Early Education & Training.
​
WHAT IS OTTER?
Every year, the Talking Together programme reaches a large number of families across the BSB area. Families report that they enjoy receiving Talking Together and the support the Language Development Workers provide. However, to date there have been no rigorous evaluations of how the programme works, and whether it changes children's language skills. The oTTer project is the first step in this type of evaluation.
The oTTer project is a feasibility randomised controlled trial. This means some of the families who are offered Talking Together will also be offered oTTer. The families who are part of oTTer will either get Talking Together straight away, or they will wait for a short period before receiving the programme. The aim of this is to consider whether it is possible to measure differences between these two groups, and in future this could tell us what impact Talking Together has on improving children's language skill.
​
For more specific information on the details of the research project, see below.
RESEARCH
​
We have now finished data collection with our families, and have started data analysis. As we begin to understand more and have findings to share, we will post them on the Findings page. And follow us on Twitter for updates!
​
​
​
Our protocol paper has been published! This describes our study in more detail, and is available free online via the following link...
​
​
​
The trial has also been registered and can be viewed using the following link...
​
​
​
MEET THE TEAM
The oTTer project is a collaboration with lots of different team members. Primarily, the BHT Early Education and Training Team works with members of the University of York and Born in Bradford. The key people are:
Dr Claudine Bowyer-Crane – Principal Investigator
Dr Dea Nielsen – Research Fellow
Katrina d'Apice – Research Fellow
Rebecca Heald – BHT Early Education and Training
Chloe Storr – BHT Early Education and Training
Amirah Akhtar – Research Assistant
Sameera Ali – Research Assistant
​
CONTACT US
For questions about oTTer
Katrina d'Apice or Dea Nielsen
Department of Education
University of York
York
YO10 5DD
katrina.dapice@york.ac.uk/ dea.nielsen@york.ac.uk
For questions about Talking Together
BHT Early Education and Training
The Barn, 16 Teasdale Street
Off Wakefield Road
Bradford
BD4 7QJ
01274 730415
