IT is widely accepted that there is a strong link between spoken and written language.

To be able to read and write, a child needs to develop his or her spoken language skills first.

Sally Proctor, the lead speech and language therapist for the Exeter community paediatric team, works with children's centres in Exeter and East and Mid Devon.

She said: "Literacy depends on establishing good spoken communication.

"If you can focus on that and get children talking, you are building up a firm base for literacy."

The link between spoken and written communication also works the other way round.

"Reading books with young children is a very important way of building communication skills," said Sally.

"It is a good opportunity for conversation and interaction.

"To us, the important thing is getting spoken language skills before we think about literacy.

"Looking at books together is a wonderful way of sharing language."

Sally helps children who have difficulties communicating, promoting communication and language skills. This involves supporting those who work in early years education with parents, and helping parents find the best ways of supporting their children's language development.

Helping children to communicate can start from the moment they are born.

Sally said: "The earlier the interaction starts the better.

"A lot of the things we are talking about are common sense strategies that people are doing anyway."

Communicating is not just about using words.

One thing therapists suggest is that parents position themselves so that they are face to face with their children as much as possible.

"Websites such as Talking Point are full of general information on how to get interaction," she said.

Not being able to communicate well can have a serious impact on people's lives.

Sally added: "Language is a fundamental skill. We need to be able to communicate in every aspect of our lives. It is the basis for our emotional and social well-being — the most complex skill that anyone ever learns.

"Children have got to have learnt it by the time they get to school, so it is critical that they start early.

"It's about each child reaching their own potential."

Learning to communicate has also been linked to brain growth.

Research suggests the amount of interaction a baby gets affects the size of his or her brain.

Each baby is born with 50 trillion synapses and by the time it is three, it has a thousand trillion.

Sally said: "Synapses are formed by a baby's experiences, so the more experiences they have, the more synapses will form."

Sally believes anything that raises awareness of children's skills, such as International Literacy Day, is important.

"There is a lot in the media about literacy levels in this country and it certainly can't be anything but an excellent thing to be raising awareness of it," she said.