This photocopiable resource provides a clear structure to assist teachers, SENCOs, learning support assistants and speech language therapists in developing children's language from the concrete to the abstract. It is based on fifty picture and verbal scenarios that can be used flexibly with a wide range of ages and abilities. Quick, practical and easy to use in the classroom, this programme can be used with individual children, in small groups or can form the basis of a literacy lesson or speech language therapy session.

Key Features include:

• question sheets are carefully structured to promote children's development of inference, verbal reasoning and thinking skills
• the three parallel assessments of spoken and written language can be used to assess each child's starting level and then to monitor progress
• score forms and worksheets for each lesson are included.

The book is particularly useful for children who are recognised as having delayed language skills, specific language impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder (including Asperger's Syndrome), pragmatic language impairment or moderate learning difficulties.

The second edition is now in full colour throughout and has been updated with a simplified introduction. All illustrations and worksheets will now be available online.

Stephen Parsons is Speech Language Therapy Team Manager at City and Hackney Teaching PCT.

Anna Branagan is Clinical Lead Specialist Speech and Language Therapist at City and Hackney Teaching PCT.