ONLINE: Building Early Sentences Therapy (BEST) - Listen and Learn: AUS/NZ Workshop

"LIVE" and Recorded Online Learning

This Course Beetle and Skill Builders workshop will run across 2 Parts:

Part 1 – Self-Study Online Module to be Completed Prior to Part 2

(6-month viewing access from registration date)

Part 2 – 8.00am NZDT Monday 2nd November 2026 with Dr Sean Pert

(“Live” on Zoom and recording access available until 2nd May 2027)

About This Course

The Building Early Sentences Therapy programme (BEST) is a language intervention programme for children with language difficulties. It involves Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) and early years professionals working in collaboration. While BEST is free to use and the manual, all the forms, homework packs, etc. are provided free of charge, it is recommended that practitioners access the training because the BEST approach is radically different from other language interventions in the way it is delivered. This training package is designed to support productive and effective collaborative working between Speech and Language Therapists and practitioners in early years and school settings (children age 3-6). Speech and Language Therapists who have accessed the training with Course Beetle can, should they wish, subscribe to Course Beetle’s BEST for Settings resource package.

Intended Participants of BEST AUS/NZ Training

This course is suitable for: Australian and New Zealand based Early Years Practioners, Speech and Language Therapists, Speech Pathologists, and Speech and Language Therapy Assistants. Settings who would like to implement BEST need to request collaborative support from a Speech and Language Therapist who will access BEST training and undertake the assessments.

Registration and Online Learning Details

BEST AUS/NZ is offered as a collaboration between Course Beetle Ltd and Skill Builders Speech Language Therapy. Course Beetle Academy will be the online portal where all BEST AU/NZ resources will be kept. Skill Builders will email instructions on creating a Course Beetle Academy login and account which will enable access to BEST training resources and handouts. Single registration cost is for each individual, not per site. Each person must register and complete Parts 1 and 2 to implement BEST effectively. Zoom will be used to deliver Part 2 with the “meeting room” details emailed to participants prior to the session in November. You will need to download Zoom software to your computer. A webcam and inbuilt microphone on your computer is also preferable so you can fully participate.

Evidence Base for BEST

Building Early Sentences Therapy (BEST) was compared to an adapted version of the Derbyshire Language Scheme (A-DLS) in a recent randomised control trial (RCT). This research programme was led by Professor Cristina McKean and is known as LIVELY. You can access a list of publications on the RCT here: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/lively/publications/. The results of the RCT showed that children who received Building Early Sentences Therapy made significant progress with their language skills and continued to improve. BEST effectively ‘kick starts’ children’s language development.

About BEST

Researchers from Newcastle University and The University of Manchester have devised a language therapy programme based on how children acquire language skills. The researchers wanted the programme to be practical and evidence-based. BEST is:

• Low dosage – two 15-minute sessions per week for 8 weeks

• Effective – the children receiving the BEST programme not only improved their language skills but continued to make gains afterwards (Jack et al. 2024)

• Group-based – BEST can be delivered in small groups of up to 6 children

• Play-based – toys are used to help children acquire language skills

• Available to all – Adaptations in Languages Other Than English (LOTE) are available, including Mirpuri, Sylheti and Polish, and the programme is suitable for adaption into other languages.

The BEST programme has been extensively trialled in children’s speech and language therapy services, early years and school settings.

Who is BEST For?

Children aged 3 years to 6 years who have language difficulties and find it difficult to understand and/or say spoken sentences with 2-, 3- and 4-part phrases, such as:

• ‘The girl is laughing’ (2)

• ‘The man is kicking a ball’ (3)

• ‘The boy is giving a banana to the baby’ (4)

Children’s understanding and expression interact, so children often learn the vocabulary as they progress through the programme. No pre-learning of vocabulary is required.

BEST is not an English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme. Children who speak their home language well do not need additional help to learn English and should not be considered to have a language difficulty.

BEST requires children to have foundation skills for language acquisition, including shared attention, pattern spotting and other related skills. This means that some children are unlikely to benefit from the Building Early Sentences Therapy programme. For example, children with social communication skills needs may respond better to other interventions.

How Does the Speech and Language Therapy/Setting Partnership Work?

• Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) access BEST training

• The SLTs will either cascade the principles or, refer early years staff to Course Beetle’s BEST for Settings self-study module

• A Speech and Language Therapist assesses children who may benefit from the BEST intervention

• The setting team gathers together the required toys and delivers the therapy. BEST will not work through picture-only-based delivery

• Partners review outcomes and agree the onward schedule for BEST

Readings and Resources

There are no pre-readings for this event, however, completion of Part 1 (Self-Study Online Module) is required before attending or watching Part 2 (Zoom session with Dr Sean Pert). Practitioners interested in learning more about BEST may access resources here - https://research.ncl.ac.uk/best/

About Dr Sean Pert

Dr Pert is a Speech and Language Therapist and Senior Lecturer in Speech and Language Therapy at the University of Manchester. He has more than 25 years of experience in the NHS, Higher Education and charity sector. Dr Pert is also the Lead Consultant for Indigo Gender Service, Greater Manchester and is the Chair of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). He teaches a range of subjects at the University of Manchester. These include Clinical Phonetics (IPA Clinical Transcription), Speech Sound Disorder (Analysis & Intervention), Bilingualism and Voice and Communication Therapy for trans and gender-diverse individuals. Dr Sean Pert has won the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ Sternberg Award for Clinical Innovation on an unprecedented three occasions.