With more children attending formal child care and limited speech language pathology resources, there is a need to consider alternate service delivery models. One such approach is clinician training of early childhood professionals (ECPs). To be appropriately targeted and efficient, training programs should be based on research evidence. This systematic review focuses on studies into which ECP skills improve child language and literacy. Databases searched were PsychINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, ERIC, LLBA, and Medline from 1990 onwards. Papers were included if they were (a) studies reporting the efficacy of professional development programs in terms of positive outcomes for both child and ECP, or (b) longitudinal or cross-sectional experimental investigations that examined the relation between ECP skills and child language/literacy outcomes. The initial search identified 212 potential studies with 34 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These 34 studies included 2 longitudinal, 1 descriptive, and 31 crosssectional experiments (16 randomized controlled trials, RCTs; 15 non-RCTs). The review identified four key skill categories: (a) quality adult-child interactions; (b) explicit literacy instruction; (c) storytelling skills; and (d) supporting peer-to-peer interactions. The inclusion of these skills by clinicians in training of ECPs is supported by research evidence.

Early childhood educators (ECEs) have an important role in promoting positive outcomes for children's language and literacy development. This paper reports the development of a new tool, The Interaction Communication and Literacy (ICL) Skills Audit, and pilots its reliability and validity. Intra- and inter-rater reliability was examined by three speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Five skill areas relating to ECE language and literacy practice were rated. The face and content validity of the ICL Skills Audit was examined by expert SLPs (n = 8) and expert ECEs (n = 4) via questionnaire. The overall intra-rater reliability for the ICL Skills Audit was excellent with percentage close agreement (PCA) of 91-94. Inter-rater agreement was PCA 68-80. Expert SLPs and ECEs agreed that the content was comprehensive and practical. Based on this preliminary study, the ICL Skills Audit appears to be a promising tool that can be used by SLPs and ECEs in collaboration to measure the skills of ECEs in the areas of language and literacy support. Future psychometric and outcome research on the revised ICL Skills Audit is warranted.

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