What is the language enrichment activity programme?

What is the language enrichment activity programme?

The language enrichment activity programme (LEAP), is a small group language intervention designed by the speech and language therapy service in Sheffield to develop your child’s ability to understand and use up to 4 key words or ‘information carrying words’ in their talking. This is an intervention that schools use.

What are key words or ‘information carrying words’?

Many words in a sentence are not essential to understand what is being said. Key words are the words that carry meaning. For example, “the blue dog is under the table”.

Often a child does not need to understand any of the words because they can see what is needed from what is happening, for example:

• When an adult gestures “come here” or points to the item and says “give me that”
• When an adult shows the child “wash teddy” and child copies. The child can copy what is happening without fully understanding the words
• When an adult holds their coat out and says “coat on”
• When an adult says “give me teddy”, and the only object in front of the child is a teddy
• When an adult holds a banana skin and says “put the banana in the bin”, this is where it always goes

There needs to be an alternative option or choice for it to be classed as a key word in the phrase. Examples of key word phrases:

 1 key word

• ”give me the banana” when there is a choice of banana, apple or biscuit
• “feed dolly” when a dolly is the only toy available and a choice of washing or feeding

In all of these examples there is only a choice of an object or action word.

2 key words

• “show me teddy’s nose” when there is a choice of dolly or teddy and nose or ears
• “wash dolly” when there is a choice of washing or feeding and dolly or teddy

In all of these examples, there is a choice of both object and another part. For example, body part or action word.

3 key words

• “wash teddy’s nose” when there is a choice of wash or feed, teddy or dolly and nose or ears
• “put teddy on the chair” when there is a choice of teddy or dolly, on or under and chair or table
• “give me the big red apple” when there is a choice of big or little, red or green and apple or cup

In all of these examples, there is a choice of both object and 2 other parts. For example, body part, action word or size.

4 key words

• “give teddy the big blue cup” when there is a choice of teddy or dolly, big or little, blue or red and cup or spoon
• “put the big car on the red chair” when there is a choice of big or little, car or boat, red or green and chair or table
• “put teddy in the box and dolly in the house” when there is a choice of teddy, dolly or cow and box, house or basket
• “wash teddy and feed dolly” when there is a choice of teddy, dolly or cow and feed, wash or dress

In all of these examples, there is a choice of both object and 3 other parts. For example, object, action word, colour or size.