Ways to screen early years' children for speech and language difficulties will be developed as part of the 2011 National Year of Communication, officially launched at the House of Commons yesterday.
The National Year, backed by Communication Champion Jean Gross (pictured),
and managed by the Communication Trust, aims to provide tangible improvements for the 1.2 million children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Having a year when children’s communication skills were made a priority in schools and homes was originally proposed in John Bercow’s review of services for children and young people with SLCN in 2008.
Announcing ‘Hello’, the Communication Trust’s campaign to achieve the aims of the National Year, director Anita Kerwin-Nye said, ‘Parents and families need timely information and support on developing their children’s communication, which is why we have set ourselves an ambitious target of reaching every new parent in 2011, amongst other activity. We will greatly improve understanding of SLCN and speech and language impairment, taking it to a level not seen before.
‘No parent should feel alone or have to fight for services because their child’s needs have been misunderstood, or in worse situations, missed altogether.’
She highlighted that the children’s workforce also wants more information and support in developing all children’s speech and language and in identifying problems early.
To help the Communication Trust will be providing 'ages and stages' booklets, milestone posters and clear symptom checklists that validate concerns. The Trust will also be developing approaches to screening children at pre-school and age five.
Speaking at the event children’s minister Sarah Teather said that systems for identifying children with SLCN need to be made less adversarial and more family friendly.
She added, ‘Speech and language issues are at the bedrock of learning. Children can’t learn if they can’t communicate that they can’t understand.
‘We all know young people who have gone through school and have failed to have their needs recognised and have had isolated childhoods as a result. It holds back their socialisation, ability to make friends and all that is necessary to help our children develop.’
and managed by the Communication Trust, aims to provide tangible improvements for the 1.2 million children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Having a year when children’s communication skills were made a priority in schools and homes was originally proposed in John Bercow’s review of services for children and young people with SLCN in 2008.Announcing ‘Hello’, the Communication Trust’s campaign to achieve the aims of the National Year, director Anita Kerwin-Nye said, ‘Parents and families need timely information and support on developing their children’s communication, which is why we have set ourselves an ambitious target of reaching every new parent in 2011, amongst other activity. We will greatly improve understanding of SLCN and speech and language impairment, taking it to a level not seen before.
‘No parent should feel alone or have to fight for services because their child’s needs have been misunderstood, or in worse situations, missed altogether.’
She highlighted that the children’s workforce also wants more information and support in developing all children’s speech and language and in identifying problems early.
To help the Communication Trust will be providing 'ages and stages' booklets, milestone posters and clear symptom checklists that validate concerns. The Trust will also be developing approaches to screening children at pre-school and age five.
Speaking at the event children’s minister Sarah Teather said that systems for identifying children with SLCN need to be made less adversarial and more family friendly.
She added, ‘Speech and language issues are at the bedrock of learning. Children can’t learn if they can’t communicate that they can’t understand.
‘We all know young people who have gone through school and have failed to have their needs recognised and have had isolated childhoods as a result. It holds back their socialisation, ability to make friends and all that is necessary to help our children develop.’
- For further information on the National Year and improving children’s communication skills go to: www.hello.org.uk.
