30 April 2009

Rose Review recognises communication's key role in education

The Rose Review's recognition that good communication skills are the key to effective learning is an important step forward in helping children in England to get more from their education, according to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).

The RCSLT says the new priority given by Government to spoken communication in education is a welcome move that will enable many children to better access the school curriculum.

RCSLT CEO Kamini Gadhok says: "The Rose Review offers the chance to focus on raising standards in spoken English for children in primary schools. It also provides an invaluable opportunity to develop the skills of children who have identified difficulties with listening, vocabulary, language development and understanding.

"Early identification and intervention for children can minimise the risks of these children achieving poor academic outcomes, being excluded from schools and, in the worst-case scenario, entering the criminal justice system."

The RCSLT also welcomes the review's recognition of the importance of transition periods.

Some children entering education from nursery have problems with communication that are identified only when they get to school, The demands of the curriculum after transition from primary to secondary can also expose the fact that some children need extra support.

Ensuring that schoolteachers and others are able to identify these children with speech, language and communication problems early will go a long way to overcoming the current problems in the system.

Notes for editors

For more information and to arrange an interview with RCSLT CEO Kamini Gadhok, contact RCSLT Communications Manager Steven Harulow, tel: 0207 378 3004, or email: steven.harulow@rcslt.org

In September 2007, the Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls, MP) and Health, (Alan Johnson, MP), asked John Bercow MP to lead an independent review of services for children and young people with SLCN.

The Bercow Review's full title is: Bercow review of services for children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs. John Bercow submitted an interim report in March 2008 and a final report in July 2008. The Bercow Review highlighted that up to half of children in deprived areas have poor language skills.

Following the review of services for children and young people with SLCN by John Bercow MP, the Government published Better Communication: An Action Plan to Improve Services for Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs on 17 December 2008.

The RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists in the UK and has over 13,000 members. It is responsible for setting, promoting and maintaining high standards in education, clinical practice and ethical conduct.

The RCSLT has developed a position paper that explains the essential role of speech and language therapist in the development of children's services.

The RCSLT supports the Inclusion Development and Every Child a Talker programmes. Every Child a Talker is designed to strengthen children's early language development by improving the quality of language provision in early years settings.

Key facts on children in England with speech, language and communication needs

• Half of children in some socio-economically disadvantaged populations have speech and language skills that are significantly lower than those of other children of the same age

• Nearly 40,000 children (approximately 7% of five year olds) entering school in 2007 in England had significant difficulties with speech and/or language

• More than 5,500 children (approximately 1% of five year olds) entering school in 2007 in England had severe and complex speech, language and communication needs

• An estimated 60% of the 7,000 children and young people aged under 18 who pass through young offender institutions have difficulties with speech, language and communication

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