Child Development
Speech year is in jeopardy
Concerns have been raised that the National Year of Speech, Language and Communication, which is due to take place in 2011, could be axed after the Government refused to make a commitment to funding the initiative.
Jean Gross, Communications Champion
In response to a written question about the year by Don Foster, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, children's minister Sarah Teather said that funding for the year would be considered as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Anita Kerwin-Nye, director of the Communication Trust, said, 'Speech, language and communication is the most common type of special educational need in children. Without this fundamental life skill, children will struggle to make friends, achieve at school and ultimately find employment. We are confident that the Government understands this.
'The bottom line is that without Government support, corporate and voluntary sector funding for the National Year is at risk.'
The National Year, which is a programme of work run by 38 charities, will aim to raise awareness and improve early intervention for children with speech and language delay. The Communication Trust said the whole programme of work for the National Year would be at risk if the Government decides not to provide funding for it.
The National Year was first proposed by John Bercow MP as part of his 2008 speech, language and communication review, and formed part of the previous Government's Better Communication Action Plan, published in December 2008.
Communication champion Jean Gross, who is responsible for leading the National Year, said, 'I'm optimistic that the National Year will go ahead because of the clear links between children's speech and language and communication skills and their achievement at school, as well as the links between speech, language and communication and poverty.
'Over 50 per cent of children in areas of social disadvantage have language delay and it is one of the fastest growing areas of special educational needs. A national year can help raise awareness.'
