Speaking Space

Fleming House, Alma Road, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8ED

Talkabout resources

The Talkabout programme is a structured, hierarchical approach to teaching social communication, self-esteem and friendship skills. Later books include programmes to develop sex and relationship skills, theory of mind, and transition skills.

  • The Talkabout resources are practical, easy to follow and the core manuals can be used alongside the TASS to assess and track progress.
  • The Talkabout books are in colour and are written with a specific client group in mind.
  • Talkabout books are photocopiable but once purchased, activities can be downloaded from the Routledge website.
 
Contact us if you wish to purchase any Talkabout resources at office@speakingspace.co.uk.

Talkabout resources include:

Core manual

This book is aimed at older children and adults with additional needs. It uses visuals and activities to help people develop social communication and gives ideas to simplify and increase complexity of activities where appropriate. Use this book in conjunction with the TASS and Talkabout video library for a complete package for assessing and teaching social communication. This book replaces the original Talkabout and Talkabout Activities resources.

Talkabout 

2nd edition (2016)

A social communication package to help people with additional needs of all ages. Includes over 60 activities to develop body language, the way we talk, conversational skills and assertiveness. 

Primary resources

All books are aimed at younger children (4-11) but can also be used with older children with additional needs. They use games, activities, and puppets to help children learn in an interactive and fun way. Use these books in conjunction with the TASS Tool and the group cohesion cards for a complete package for assessing and teaching social communication, self-esteem, and friendship skills.

Talkabout for Children 1 developing self awareness & self esteem

2nd edition (2018)

Aimed at younger children (4-11) and older children with additional needs. 40 activities to develops self-awareness & self-esteem – a prerequisite to teaching social communication.

Talkabout for Children 2 developing social communication

3rd edition (2024)

Aimed at younger children (4-11) and older children with additional needs. Over 60 activities to develop body language, conversations and assertiveness. An ideal follow-on resource to Talkabout for Children 1.

Talkabout for Children 3 developing friendship skills

2nd edition (2018)

Aimed at younger children (4-11) and older children with additional needs. Includes 40 activities to developing friendship skills –  ideally taught after teaching social communication.

Secondary plus resources

These books are aimed at secondary children (10-18) or young adults.  They use activities and worksheets to help the students learn about self-esteem, social communication, and friendship skills. Use these books in conjunction with the TASS, the Talkabout board game and posters for a complete package for assessing and developing social communication, self-esteem, and friendship skills.

Talkabout for Teenagers

2nd edition (Kelly & Sains 2018)

Aimed at secondary children in mainstream settings (10-18 years). It includes 5 modules on self-esteem, social communication and friendship skills, including activities and worksheets.

Talkabout Sex & Relationships 1

(Kelly & Dennis 2017)

Aimed at people with additional needs, this is a comprehensive toolkit for teaching about relationships, including topics on finding a partner, coping with problems, staying safe, maintaining and ending relationships.

Talkabout Sex & Relationships 2

(Kelly & Dennis 2019)

Aimed at people with additional needs, this is a comprehensive toolkit for teaching about sex, including topics on body awareness, consent, sexual health and guidelines for a healthy sexual relationship.

Talkabout for Adults developing self-awareness & self-esteem

(Kelly & Green 2014)

Aimed at adults with an intellectual disability. 40 activities to develops self-awareness & self-esteem – a prerequisite to developing social communication.

Talkabout Theory of Mind

(Wareham & Kelly 2020)

Aimed at developing theory of mind in all ages (children and adults). It includes nearly 100 activities that include topics such as: thoughts, feelings and actions, knowledge and beliefs, and respect.

Talkabout Transitions: From education to employment 

(2020)

Aimed at supporting young people to make the transition from education to employment. Includes an assessment and 40 activities on topics such as the application process, interviews and workplace relationships.

Resources useful for all age groups

These resources have been designed to complement the Talkabout books and can be used to support your assessment and intervention.

Talkabout Assessment of Social Skills (TASS)

(June 2024)

  • Talkabout Assessment of Social Skills (TASS) is an assessment tool using a software programme which allows education and healthcare professionals to input and analyse the assessment of social communication. It gathers information from key sources to provide a holistic view of a person’s social communication and uses rating scales to enable quantitative analysis of intervention.

Talkabout Video Library 

(2022)

  • Video clips to illustrate social communication behaviours
  • Includes all the behaviours worked on in Talkabout

Talkabout Cards

(2011, 2013)

TAB Cards

3 sets of cards

  • Group cohesion activities: 20 group games to encourage group cohesion
  • Self-awareness activities: 20 group games to encourage self-awareness
  • Who am I? a set of 36 cards to encourage group conversation and social communication

Talkabout Game

(2nd edition)

  • A board game with challenge cards to play at different levels including self-esteem, body language, conversations and assertiveness
  • The group have to work together to get through the weekdays to the weekend.

Talkabout Posters

(2011)

  • 16 posters illustrating key steps to success for social communication including posters on body language, the way we talk, conversational skills, assertiveness, and friendship skills.

Social Skills Developing Effective Interpersonal Communication

(2018)

  • A definitive guide to understanding and developing social communication. This book provides a theoretical framework to the developing social communication alongside a range of practical ideas for practitioners.

Contact us about Resources

If you would like to order resources please fIll out the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible.