CHILDREN across Oxfordshire started school last week and will be looking forward to a wealth of experiences and making new friends. However, in some areas, upwards of 50 per cent of children start school with language which is under-developed for their age.

Without support, some of these children may never catch up. This affects their ability to learn and make friends. There is a ‘golden age’ for learning to talk – before five years of age and it is vital that we use this to give young children the best start in life.

This is why I CAN, the children’s communication charity, has launched our annual Chatterbox Challenge sing-along.

Now in its 13th year, Chatterbox Challenge: Sounds like fun with Humf develops the communication skills of children (under five-years-old) through songs and rhymes in early years settings across the UK.

Based on sounds, noises and even silence, Chatterbox Challenge highlights the difficulties faced by 1.2 million children in the UK with their speech, language and communication. Children are sponsored to perform in front of families and carers and the majority of events will be held in Chatterbox Challenge Week from February 10-16, 2014.

With sponsorship from Openreach and TTS, and the support of Humf from the Nick Jr. TV show, I CAN are calling on as many groups as possible to get involved to make this year’s event the best yet.

All the Chatterbox Challenge activities have been developed by I CAN speech and language therapists and teachers and are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage. This helps children develop the foundation for good communication development in the early years, ensuring more children become school ready. Families and early years settings in Oxford can register online today at www.chatterboxchallenge.org.uk for their free activity and fundraising pack. Together, we can help reach more children who may be left out of left behind because of a difficulty communicating.

VIRGINIA BEARDSHAW, chief executive, I CAN, Wakley Street, London