Thirteen boards using pictures, symbols and words have been placed in parks and community spaces across five Kent districts by Kent County Council’s Kent Family Hub service.
Families visiting local parks across five Kent districts will now find something new alongside the swings and benches — a communication board, fixed in place and free to use. The boards display pictures, symbols and words so children can point to what they want, how they feel, or what they’d like to do, without needing to speak. They’re designed for any child or family. Not just those with a diagnosed communication difficulty.
All 13 were installed by Kent County Council’s Kent Family Hub service as part of its commitment to the Balanced System for Speech, Language and Communication Needs — a framework aimed at making everyday environments easier for children to communicate in. And using them couldn’t be simpler. Adults don’t need to wait for a child to copy or respond. Just model the language: point to “more” and “swing” while asking, “More swinging?” That’s it.
Paul Webb, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, said: “Every child deserves the opportunity to communicate, connect with others and enjoy the world around them. These communication boards are a simple but effective way of supporting children and families in everyday settings. By providing communication support in parks and community spaces across Kent, we’re helping to remove barriers and create more inclusive environments where children can learn, play and interact with confidence. The boards are part of our wider commitment to giving children the best start in life and ensuring families can access support within their local communities.”
Thirteen locations. Five districts. A QR code on each board links to a map showing where all of them are, along with further information on how to use them.
Key information
- 13 communication boards installed across five Kent districts
- Located in parks and community spaces — scan the QR code on any board for a full map of locations
- Suitable for all children, including those with speech, language and communication needs, those learning to talk, and families who use visual communication support
- Further details available through Kent County Council’s communication boards information page at www.kent.gov.uk/communicationboards
The boards form part of the council’s broader commitment to giving children the best start in life and ensuring families can access support within their local communities.
Communication boards installed in parks across Kent to help children connect Quiz
5 questions