Prosiect Pengwin is a large research project being led by Prof Yvonne Wren at Cardiff Metropolitan University and BSLTRU funded by the Welsh Government to create tools to screen children's speech and language development across Wales.
Here is some information from the Welsh Government written in English: https://www.earlyyears.wales/en/news/prosiect-pengwin-early-years-co-design-panel and Welsh: https://www.earlyyears.wales/cy/newyddion/prosiect-pengwin-panel-cyd-gynhyrchu-blynyddoedd-cynnar
The Prosiect Pengwin research group is working on behalf of Welsh Government to develop tools and resources that will support health, education and childcare practitioners to identify and support speech, language and communication skills in the early years. The first stage of the project involves creating questionnaires and activities for use by health and early years practitioners to monitor the development of children's speech, language and communication skills and identify when extra help is needed. The aim is to ensure that children who have or are at risk of speech and language disorders are identified and supported well before they reach school.
This morning I attended (virtually) a meeting with 13 members of the team across Wales and England. This is an impressive team of very skilled researchers. The ELIM team https://research.ncl.ac.uk/elim-i/elim-i/elim-itrainingandhandbooks/ (Prof Cristina McKean, Dr Jenna Charlton, Christine Jack) is part of this Prosiect Pengwin team. Cathie Matthews has just trialed the ELIM in Australia as part of her Masters' research with me - and we will present this work at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference in a few weeks' time.
