CLASSES across aimed at helping young children improve their speech and language skills have been recognised as playing an important role in their development.

Sally Mann runs 'Sounds Right Phonics Classes' and hosts sessions at Horndon on the Hill Village Hall, Grays United Reformed Church on Bradleigh Avenue, Lakeside Partyman and the East Thurrock Community Association in Stanford-le-Hope.

She is particularly concerned that boys quickly fall behind girls in learning at an early stage and hey don't get help they will fall into a literacy gap.

Sally, 37, who started the classes up three years ago and now runs them across south Essex as well as Thurrock says: "As a primary school teacher I was not surprised that numerous studies show a gender gap where girls are significantly outperforming boys in literacy.

"But the high-energy preschool classes help develop speech and language skills in toddlers and empowers parents with the skills they need to support their preschool child on their reading journey."

Sounds Right Phonics Classes have taken the local area by storm, winning local and national awards such as Best New Start-Up at The Mum and Working Awards, and Best New Class at The Essex Mums Awards. And the company has recently been recognised by Theo Paphitis as a business to watch out for in his #sbs Sunday award. The classes recognise the importance of early language skills

For more information on Sounds Right Phonics Classes for Kids visit the website via our red button below or email [email protected]