This essay will discuss the role of early years educators, particularly focusing on supporting speech, language and communication in early childhood. As a child grows, his speech and language give him access to the world and the people around him. They learn to communicate with other people and shape their thoughts with words. Language and communication skills include the child's ability to express himself or herself through words, gestures or facial expressions, as well as the ability to understand others. “Communication is an essential life skill. It is the foundation on which all children learn, achieve and make friends. It is vital to the development of children's social and emotional well-being." (Lindon, J., 2002). The early years context is about emergent literacy. Early years practitioners need to provide children with a print-rich environment, for example when they are ready for a story, hold the book up high so they can see the words, having the child's name and photograph on the placemats. (NCCA, 2009). French (2013) states that we must become more ...