Communication Bandings

Communication bandings are frameworks used to categorise the communication needs of individuals, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  Communication bands outline six stages of development in relation to communication. 

Each band describes what a pupil needs and how adults should interact with that pupil in order to support their development. This ensures that the language used to interact with pupils matches their communicative capabilities. 

Pupils only move through the communication bands when they are ready and, on some occasions, may need to return to a former band – for example, after a significant absence.