Over the next few months, The Communication Trust is looking in to whether there is an appetite for schools to achieve an accredited Communication Quality Mark. This can build on work that schools have already done around the Communication Commitment (though schools are not required to have any previous knowledge or experience of the Commitment) and will provide a quality stamp which proves that your school is committed to and implementing a whole school approach to communication, and supporting pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Since the Communication Commitment was developed, they have had numerous requests from schools and settings about an accreditation or quality mark process, providing a more robust process to recognise the work they are doing.The Commitment Quality Mark would sit alongside the free Communication Commitment, and would not replace it.
The aim of the Quality Mark is to acknowledge the work done by schools, evidenced to support the speech, language and communication of their pupils. The aim is to capture best practice from a range of sources; for example, it may be local training and support with speech and language therapists or other specialists, national qualifications or excellent implementation of evidenced interventions, achieving positive outcomes for pupils.
The Quality Mark would involve two steps;
1, gathering evidence around a set of actions (based on actions from The Communication Commitment),
2, followed by a visit from a trained assessor, who will assess the evidence and allow you to achieve your award.
Assessors will be recruited from the national network of Local Champions and Language Leaders, who will have received training in the Quality Mark assessment and hold a certificate of accreditation from The Communication Trust.
There will be three levels to the Quality Mark; bronze, silver and gold. Your school’s Quality Mark would be valid for three years, but if you achieve a bronze or a silver accreditation, you can be reassessed and are eligible to an upgrade to a further level of accreditation. There must be a full renewal assessment at the end of each three year period of accreditation.
They would appreciate you taking the time to answer the following questions about the proposal for a Communication Quality Mark.
Please click here to complete our Quality Mark survey. We would appreciate any responses before Monday 2nd July. The survey should take around 5 minutes to complete.
Thank you for your help. If you have any further questions, please contact Jack Williams on jwilliams@
