Communication boards

Communication boards are a simple and supportive way to help people share their thoughts, feelings, and needs. You’ll find communication boards in selected parks across Kent.

Each board uses clear pictures, symbols, and words to cover everyday topics such as:

• emotions
• play equipment
• actions
• self-care.

They are free for anyone to use and can be especially helpful for children and adults who find it easier to understand language through visuals.

By pointing to images or words, people can express themselves, take part in play, and connect with others around them. Communication boards can also help build understanding of new words and encourage communication in a fun, natural way.

How to use a communication board

Using a communication board is easy. Simply point to the pictures or words that match what you want to say. You can use the board to make choices, share how you’re feeling, or join in conversations and play.

Use the communication board to pick a word you think the person you are using the board with may find interesting or relevant, such as

• “slide”
• “drink”
• “sit”

Point to the chosen word on the board and say it out loud to help build understanding between the symbol and what it represents.

Practising through repetition helps to develop understanding. It can take time, so try to practise regularly and stay patient. Developing understanding takes time, so try to practise regularly and stay patient. The person using the board may need to see and hear the word several times before they begin to recognise its meaning and use it themselves.

View an example of what our new communication boards look like (PDF, 182.2 KB)

Why use a communication board

Communication boards:

• support communication and language development
• encourage independence and confidence
• help children and adults take part in conversations and activities
• supports English as an additional language
• help everyone feel included and understood.

Communication boards are for everyone to use, helping to create more inclusive and accessible spaces across Kent.

Our parks

Our communication boards can be found in the following parks across Kent:

Ashford:

• Victoria Park
• Noakes Meadow
• Bulleid Place.

Folkestone and Hythe:

• Randor Park
• Cheriton Park
• Canterbury Road Recreation Ground.

Gravesham:

• Gordon Promenade
• Rosherville Recreational Space
• Woodlands Park.

Tonbridge and Malling:

• Taddington Valley.

Tunbridge Wells:

• Sherwood Road Play Area
• Grosvenor and Hilbert Park
• Oak Road playground.

You can collect a paper copy from the district family hub where the park communication board is located.

Special thanks

The communication boards were a collaborative project delivered in partnership with local councils across Kent:

• Ashford Borough Council
• Folkestone and Hythe District Council
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Tonbridge and Malling Council
• Tunbridge Wells Council.

Tips and tricks

Words and phrases

If they are just beginning to use the board, you can show them how it works by pointing to symbols as you say them out loud. You might model simple sentence starters such as “I want…” or “I see…”, then pause to give them time to watch, listen, or respond in their own way.

Allow time and space

Take a moment to stop and wait, giving the person you are using the communication board with, the opportunity to look at the board. They may need time to explore where symbols are and become familiar with the layout before they feel ready to use it themselves.

Offer choices

Providing options can help encourage communication. For example, if you’re at the park, you might say, “I can see the swings and the roundabout. What would you like to do next?”

This supports them to make a choice and express their preferences.

Be patient

It’s completely normal if the person using the board doesn’t start pointing straight away. Just like learning spoken language, using symbols takes practise and repeated exposure before confidence builds.

Start small

If the person using the board is at an early stage, begin by modelling single words, like “dog.”

As they become more confident, you can gradually model short phrases or simple sentences such as “I see a dog” or “The dog is playing”.