- Staff Member: Catherine Elkin
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When working with young children and their families, you will encounter children with a wide range of speech, language and communication (SLC) strengths and needs. You are in an ideal position to make a difference every single day. The everyday things you do, e.g., noticing, responding, adapting, and modelling language, can help children become confident and effective communicators. Throughout this topic, you’ll explore what SLC is, why it matters, what typical development looks like, and how to support all children in developing their communication potential. To help you learn all about the different aspects of speech, language and communication, this module has been created in collaboration between Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Early Years Professionals and Speech and Language Therapists across Greater Manchester (GM). This course is aimed at anyone in the Early Years workforce and is open access and free to use. By the end of this course, you will be able to: Explain the importance of speech, language and communication for children’s learning, wellbeing and life chances. Describe how speech, language and communication develop from birth to five years and recognise typical patterns of development. Understand how to use effective interaction and communication supporting strategies within everyday play, routines and environments. Recognise when a child may need additional support and describe the graduated approach to identifying and meeting speech, language and communication needs. Identify appropriate communication adaptations that support inclusion and participation with a range of communication strengths and needs. Identify effective approaches for working in partnership with parents and carers to support children’s communication development within the home learning environment. Recognise typical multilingual development and identify strength-based approaches that support multilingual children and families. The course has been designed for you to work through the online content at your own pace and can be completed in short sessions.
This is your online space to access resources to help you make the most out of your Rise experiences when communicating with employers
By the end of this topic, you will be able to: Understand what LinkedIn is Identify why it is important for university students Describe typical uses of LinkedIn in early careers So, what is LinkedIn? It is a social networking platform specifically for professional navigation; it contains features like profile building, post sharing, and interactions with other users. So, as a university student, why is it important to you? And how can you use it to develop your branding and career?
Art School Live is a student-led live music production platform where you can gain real experience working directly with professional musicians, curators, creative organisations and industry partners. You’ll be part of a real production team delivering live events for a public audience, with the chance to contribute to everything that happens around the show - from preparing the event and creating content, to filming the performance, interviewing artists and telling the story afterwards. Students work across four connected teams: Technical Broadcast, Event Management, Creative & Marketing and Journalism & Editorial. Within those teams, there are opportunities to get involved in cameras, lighting, vision mixing, sound, event management, marketing, artist liaison, photography, interviewing, writing, editing, social media content and production. You can explore different areas, try different roles and see how all four teams come together to deliver a live event. This year, Art School Live is becoming an ongoing production house. Rather than signing up for a single event, you can become part of a regular team that meets throughout the year to plan, develop and deliver a series of productions. We’ll meet every Wednesday at 14:00, using the sessions to develop practical skills, work with artists and curators, prepare upcoming shows, rehearse productions and create the wider stories and content around each event. As the production house develops, we’ll also begin branching out into other kinds of creative events alongside live music. The first two events will be on the 29th of October (for Black History Month) and the 3rd of December. You do not need previous production experience to take part. Art School Live is open to students from all courses and at all skill levels. You can start by trying things out, build your confidence over time and gradually take on more responsibility. If you already have experience, there will also be opportunities to specialise, support other students and move into more advanced or leadership roles. Find out more and see previous productions at www.artschoollive.co.uk What you need to bring An interest in live music, events, journalism, content creation, broadcast or creative production A willingness to get involved and try practical roles Curiosity and a willingness to learn An interest in working with artists and other students Commitment to working as part of a team No previous production experience is required Students from all courses and all skill levels are welcome What you’ll get out of it Hands-on experience delivering real events for a live public audience Experience working directly with professional musicians, curators and industry partners Experience across technical, creative, journalistic and production roles Opportunities to interview artists and research, write and produce stories around events Access to artists, performances and behind-the-scenes material for creating social and digital content Experience in cameras, sound, lighting, vision mixing, photography, editing, marketing and event management The chance to try different roles and discover what interests you Real production credits and examples of work for your portfolio Opportunities to build confidence, specialise and take on more responsibility over time Experience working as part of a collaborative production team The chance to help shape new kinds of productions as the project expands Production Meetings Sign up to join us on Wednesday afternoons Wednesday 7 October 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 14 October 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 21 October 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 28 October 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 4 November 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 11 November 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 18 November 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 25 November 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 2 December 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Wednesday 9 December 2026 — 14:00-16:00 Events Thursday 29 October 2026 — All day Thursday 3 December 2026 — All day You will receive 300 RISE points for being involved for one semester
This page will give you oversight of everything relating to the Effectively YOU programme, from self study to in person workshops and full courses. Find out how you can join in with this supportive, playful, and safe learning space for your own development.
A test study pack for training resource creation
Welcome to the Digital Laboratory Health and Safety Escape Game, an interactive learning experience designed to introduce students to essential laboratory safety principles in a fun, engaging, and immersive way. Rather than simply reading about safety procedures, students become active participants in a series of challenges, puzzles, and decision-making scenarios that mirror situations they may encounter in a real laboratory environment. As they progress through the game, students must identify hazards, select appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), follow correct laboratory procedures, interpret safety signage, manage chemical risks, and respond appropriately to potential incidents. Each challenge provides clues that unlock the next stage of the escape game, encouraging critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while reinforcing safe laboratory practice. What Will Students Learn? By completing the escape game, students will develop: Awareness of laboratory hazards, including chemical, biological, physical, and equipment-related risks. Knowledge of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and when specific items should or should not be used. Understanding of laboratory rules and procedures, including safe conduct and emergency protocols. Recognition of safety symbols and warning signs commonly found in laboratory settings. Safe handling and disposal practices for chemicals, biological materials, and laboratory waste. Critical thinking and decision-making skills through scenario-based problem solving. Play the game here: https://uoscape.co.uk/safety-protocol/ We would really appreciate any feedback you can offer here: Health and Safety Feedback Form – Fill in form
Readiness to Work is an employability programme designed to help young volunteers build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to move into employment. This programme will support you to: Understand and develop transferrable skills gained through volunteering Build confidence and develop workplace and sector knowledge through tailored mentoring and employability skills development Prepare for job applications and future opportunities A series of online workshops and activities designed to help you build the skills, confidence and knowledge needed to move into employment. The training focuses on turning your volunteering experience into transferrable skills to use within future jobs and job applications. The programme will run from January 2027 to July 2027. Full details, including session times and scheduling, will be confirmed when you enrol. FIND OUT MORE AND ENROL HERE Deadline to Enrol: 1 October 2026
Take part in an online escape room where you find clues and solve puzzles to beat the clock. This digital escape game centres on terminology and language used in higher education that may not be well understood. Starting university you will learn many new concepts, practical teachings and develop yourself along the way. However, there is information that is never taught and can make a big difference to success. Things like, knowing where to find societies, contacting academics, what even is a 'formative assessment'. Some students arrive at university already familiar with a lot of this language, while others do not. Part of your academic journey is uncovering and learning these hidden aspects of university life. Think of university like a video game. The handbook gives you the main mission objectives but the hidden curriculum is all the secret tips, shortcuts and strategies that experienced players know. They are not always obvious, but learning them can make navigating university much easier. By playing the game you will gain: • An understanding of terms used in higher education.• Links to various helpful sites within the university.• Increased awareness of university life.