Word Aware
@wordaware.bsky.social
Stephen Parsons. Speech and Language Therapist, trainer and author. Chair of RADLD. Co-Chair of SLCA. Vocabulary, spoken language, oracy, Developmental Language Disorder #DevLangDis. #BskySpeechies thinkingtalking.co.uk
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Word Aware
@wordaware.bsky.social
· Sep 29
#DLDday is coming, so I’m starting a thread over a few days.
DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) is all about spoken language. Words and sentences are tricky for people with DLD. And people don’t grow out of it.
#DevLangDis @radld.bsky.social
DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) is all about spoken language. Words and sentences are tricky for people with DLD. And people don’t grow out of it.
#DevLangDis @radld.bsky.social
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I've had a few bumpy weeks, but am back to writing.
Here is some thinking about school improvement/school development.
I was thinking about this as I read about the RISE evaluation published this week.
Principles to work by...
meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/02/10/p...
Here is some thinking about school improvement/school development.
I was thinking about this as I read about the RISE evaluation published this week.
Principles to work by...
meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/02/10/p...
Part 3i – Principles to work by
This is the start of my thinking about school development – or school improvement. I suspect it there will be many smaller pieces to make up this whole part, that may, or may not follow an order. I…
meganjanedixon.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 6:24 PM
I've had a few bumpy weeks, but am back to writing.
Here is some thinking about school improvement/school development.
I was thinking about this as I read about the RISE evaluation published this week.
Principles to work by...
meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/02/10/p...
Here is some thinking about school improvement/school development.
I was thinking about this as I read about the RISE evaluation published this week.
Principles to work by...
meganjanedixon.co.uk/2026/02/10/p...
Reposted by Word Aware
Watch this. It’s the business.
February 10, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Watch this. It’s the business.
Reposted by Word Aware
This is because a statistical model of word frequency is not a useful tool for modeling the complex interactions of the human body
⚠️ Despite all the hype, chatbots still make terrible doctors. Out today is the largest user study of language models for medical self-diagnosis. We found that chatbots provide inaccurate and inconsistent answers, and that people are better off using online searches or their own judgment.
February 10, 2026 at 2:27 PM
This is because a statistical model of word frequency is not a useful tool for modeling the complex interactions of the human body
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Breaking: The government has pledged write off 90 per cent of councils’ historic SEND deficits – estimated to be worth £5 billion
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
Government to write of 90% of councils' SEND deficits
Local authorities will get a grant to cover all but 10% of deficits accrued by the end of 2025-26
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Breaking: The government has pledged write off 90 per cent of councils’ historic SEND deficits – estimated to be worth £5 billion
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/government-to-write-off-90-of-councils-send-deficits/
'Communication is highly important to these very vulnerable young people. Speech and Language Therapy services and other professionals need to provide more timely and targeted support for young people within the care system'
New open access paper: Being understood: Neurodivergent care leavers’ perspectives on their own communication skills Some really important insights about the importance of connection and advocacy for young people with #DevLangDis #SLPeeps
doi.org/10.1177/0265...
doi.org/10.1177/0265...
Being understood: Neurodivergent care leavers’ perspectives on their own communication skills - Sarah Spencer, Vicki Roberts, Kerstin Schroeter, Judy Clegg, 2026
Background Emerging research has suggested that a significant proportion of children and young people in looked after care present with communication needs incl...
doi.org
February 10, 2026 at 8:30 AM
'Communication is highly important to these very vulnerable young people. Speech and Language Therapy services and other professionals need to provide more timely and targeted support for young people within the care system'
Reposted by Word Aware
If you live in Great Britain or are just visiting, type in the places you are going to, and find extraordinary trees to view
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
February 10, 2026 at 8:21 AM
If you live in Great Britain or are just visiting, type in the places you are going to, and find extraordinary trees to view
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
Searchable by species, location & age
ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/tree-search/...
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At the DLD/SLCN specialist network listening to Georgia Wrigley from @speechandlanguk.bsky.social talk about No Pens Day which is on May 20th this year.
Get involved and raise money for #SLCN.
Details and resources speechandlanguage.org.uk/get-involved...
Get involved and raise money for #SLCN.
Details and resources speechandlanguage.org.uk/get-involved...
February 9, 2026 at 4:14 PM
At the DLD/SLCN specialist network listening to Georgia Wrigley from @speechandlanguk.bsky.social talk about No Pens Day which is on May 20th this year.
Get involved and raise money for #SLCN.
Details and resources speechandlanguage.org.uk/get-involved...
Get involved and raise money for #SLCN.
Details and resources speechandlanguage.org.uk/get-involved...
Reposted by Word Aware
Concept Cartoons are a fantastic way to kick start conversations in science. #oracy #SLCN #DevLangDis
raisedgrounded.com/concept-cart...
raisedgrounded.com/concept-cart...
February 9, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Concept Cartoons are a fantastic way to kick start conversations in science. #oracy #SLCN #DevLangDis
raisedgrounded.com/concept-cart...
raisedgrounded.com/concept-cart...
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"School nurseries lack the staff, space or demand to offer more wraparound, holiday or pre-school childcare, particularly in poorer areas, research shows."
Well who would have predicted this?!!!
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-nurse...
Well who would have predicted this?!!!
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-nurse...
School nurseries lack staff and room for extra care - report
The government has promised £400 million towards 'tens of thousands of places' in school-based nurseries
schoolsweek.co.uk
February 9, 2026 at 4:16 PM
"School nurseries lack the staff, space or demand to offer more wraparound, holiday or pre-school childcare, particularly in poorer areas, research shows."
Well who would have predicted this?!!!
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-nurse...
Well who would have predicted this?!!!
schoolsweek.co.uk/school-nurse...
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Today is is the day of our DLD/SLCN specialist provision network meeting. If you work in a resource base, unit or school, you are welcome. We'll be talking literacy, No Pens Day and the recent report on best practice in specialist provisions. Join us at 4. www.naplic.org.uk/event/slcn-d...
February 9, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Today is is the day of our DLD/SLCN specialist provision network meeting. If you work in a resource base, unit or school, you are welcome. We'll be talking literacy, No Pens Day and the recent report on best practice in specialist provisions. Join us at 4. www.naplic.org.uk/event/slcn-d...
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I’m an Ambassador for this brilliant charity, Bookbanks, giving away books with food parcels at food banks. There are two part-time jobs going for Regional Leads in London and East Anglia.
Link below.
Please share far and wide :)
Link below.
Please share far and wide :)
Get Involved — Bookbanks
www.bookbanks.co.uk
February 7, 2026 at 11:10 AM
I’m an Ambassador for this brilliant charity, Bookbanks, giving away books with food parcels at food banks. There are two part-time jobs going for Regional Leads in London and East Anglia.
Link below.
Please share far and wide :)
Link below.
Please share far and wide :)
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I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Bluesky Map
Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.
bluesky-map.theo.io
February 8, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
bluesky-map.theo.io
I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail
Reposted by Word Aware
Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️
February 9, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Good morning. We are open. 📖☕️
Reposted by Word Aware
Hello E-DLD followers! Today's research study aimed to investigate the relationship between Social Communication Disorder and DLD.
Article summary: www.engage-dld.com/post/the-rel...
Full text available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#DevLangDis #DLD #SocialCommunicationDisorder
Article summary: www.engage-dld.com/post/the-rel...
Full text available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#DevLangDis #DLD #SocialCommunicationDisorder
February 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Hello E-DLD followers! Today's research study aimed to investigate the relationship between Social Communication Disorder and DLD.
Article summary: www.engage-dld.com/post/the-rel...
Full text available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#DevLangDis #DLD #SocialCommunicationDisorder
Article summary: www.engage-dld.com/post/the-rel...
Full text available at: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...
#DevLangDis #DLD #SocialCommunicationDisorder
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This is the joy we all need at the moment
THREAD.
A selection of notes I have made in my notebook about my dad, and the things he does.
1. The Public Swimming Pool
A selection of notes I have made in my notebook about my dad, and the things he does.
1. The Public Swimming Pool
February 8, 2026 at 9:23 PM
This is the joy we all need at the moment
Reposted by Word Aware
A reminder to the media and others trying to claim this Government and Starmer are worse than anything they've ever seen, a Government which has only been in power for 19 months. Here's a handly list of the scandals we had to endure from the Tories between 2011-2024.
February 8, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A reminder to the media and others trying to claim this Government and Starmer are worse than anything they've ever seen, a Government which has only been in power for 19 months. Here's a handly list of the scandals we had to endure from the Tories between 2011-2024.
Reposted by Word Aware
We are excited about our conference (of course), but also OVER THE TOP EXCITED about amazing artist, Frankie Boyle talking about her lived experience of DLD (Developmental Language Disorder). Don't miss it. May 9th, Birmingham. www.naplic.org.uk/conferences/ #DevLangDis
February 6, 2026 at 11:08 AM
We are excited about our conference (of course), but also OVER THE TOP EXCITED about amazing artist, Frankie Boyle talking about her lived experience of DLD (Developmental Language Disorder). Don't miss it. May 9th, Birmingham. www.naplic.org.uk/conferences/ #DevLangDis
Reposted by Word Aware
When learning English stops being a bridge into society and becomes a test you can fail, integration turns into exclusion. New language rules risk shifting English from empowerment to control. Article by Declan Flanagan and Mike Chick.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/immigration/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/immigration/...
February 5, 2026 at 10:00 PM
When learning English stops being a bridge into society and becomes a test you can fail, integration turns into exclusion. New language rules risk shifting English from empowerment to control. Article by Declan Flanagan and Mike Chick.
eastangliabylines.co.uk/immigration/...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/immigration/...
Reposted by Word Aware
This thread has become one the most glorious things.
It’s like twitter in the olden days.
It’s like twitter in the olden days.
One of my academic colleagues looks a bit like Bob Mortimer. One time near our labs I saw him walking towards me and I warmly said Hey Kevin. It was Bob Mortimer.
Please share your very low impact celebrity encounters here.
Please share your very low impact celebrity encounters here.
Fun low level anecdote: I once sat near Peter Mandelson in a theatre but I had a name blank and said rather too loudly ‘ooh look it’s Michael Portillo!’
He was visibly unamused.
He was visibly unamused.
February 5, 2026 at 3:50 PM
This thread has become one the most glorious things.
It’s like twitter in the olden days.
It’s like twitter in the olden days.
Reposted by Word Aware
Join us on Monday for the DLD/SLCN specialist provision network. We'll be talking about the recent report from @afasic.bsky.social @speechandlanguk.bsky.social and NAPLIC as well as No Pens day. Join us! Free to members. #DevLangDis
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slcndld-pr...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slcndld-pr...
February 5, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Join us on Monday for the DLD/SLCN specialist provision network. We'll be talking about the recent report from @afasic.bsky.social @speechandlanguk.bsky.social and NAPLIC as well as No Pens day. Join us! Free to members. #DevLangDis
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slcndld-pr...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slcndld-pr...
Reposted by Word Aware
Absolute chills
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 12:40 PM
Absolute chills
Word Aware is our tried and tested whole school approach for supporting vocabulary. Our training provides an understanding of the method as well as ideas to implement right away. You will leave enthused (or more enthused 😄) about words.
thinkingtalking.co.uk/finding-a-wo... @lang4think.bsky.social
thinkingtalking.co.uk/finding-a-wo... @lang4think.bsky.social
February 5, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Word Aware is our tried and tested whole school approach for supporting vocabulary. Our training provides an understanding of the method as well as ideas to implement right away. You will leave enthused (or more enthused 😄) about words.
thinkingtalking.co.uk/finding-a-wo... @lang4think.bsky.social
thinkingtalking.co.uk/finding-a-wo... @lang4think.bsky.social
Reposted by Word Aware
A man at Milton Keynes station shouts insults at the train guard for not letting him onto the train.
Man (as the train leaves): What a prick.
His wife: No Jason. The train needs to leave on time. That’s her job. You, in fact, are the prick.
Man (as the train leaves): What a prick.
His wife: No Jason. The train needs to leave on time. That’s her job. You, in fact, are the prick.
February 4, 2026 at 2:10 PM
A man at Milton Keynes station shouts insults at the train guard for not letting him onto the train.
Man (as the train leaves): What a prick.
His wife: No Jason. The train needs to leave on time. That’s her job. You, in fact, are the prick.
Man (as the train leaves): What a prick.
His wife: No Jason. The train needs to leave on time. That’s her job. You, in fact, are the prick.