Speech and Language Therapy and SEND workforce take centre stage in Westminster debate

The debate was held in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 22 March 2023 and follows on from previous work by the #SENDInTheSpecialists Coalition to highlight the current issues affecting the specialist workforce for children and young people.

Led by Geraint Davies MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Speech and Language Difficulties, MPs from all parties joined the debate, calling on the Government to help resolve these issues and echoing the comments the coalition had made in its letter to the Minister on 16 March.

While all MPs who spoke highlighted the issues affecting the specialist workforce in general, a number of MPs also specifically raised the challenges with accessing speech and language therapy.

What are the next steps?

The RCSLT will follow-up with the Minister and the MPs who spoke in the debate. Working with our #SENDInTheSpecialists coalition colleagues, we will continue to press the Government on the need to invest in and plan for the specialist workforce and look forward to working with them on the issue

The full debate can be read on Parliament’s website and or viewed in video format via Parliament TV.