Speech and language therapy for children rationed due to budget cuts, finds survey
Katy Morton
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Children are missing out on vital speech and language therapy and starting school without the language skills they need, according to new research by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
Speech and language therapists in 82 services responded to the poll which revealed that more than two-thirds of those working with children are having to ration the services they provide or stop providing them altogether because of cuts to budgets.
Those who took part in the survey also highlighted increases in waiting times for speech and language therapy for children from 18 to 42 weeks, the enforced withdrawal of services from special schools, along with only being able to deliver the minimum service they are legally obliged to.
It follows a report earlier this week by the Government-funded Better Communication Research Programme, which emphasised the need for early intervention to support children with speech, language and communication needs.
One therapist said, ‘Early years children are waiting far too long for intervention and are starting school with problems that would have been resolved with intensive intervention at pre-school.’
Another added, ‘Cuts mean children are waiting for over a year for therapy. This is leading to more challenging behaviour and more incidences of exclusion from school.’
Other comments included, ‘We will no longer be providing speech and language therapy for children with statements in our area.'
Kamini Gadhok, chief executive of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, said, ‘This is very worrying news. Speech and language therapists are having to retreat into the bunkers and provide only the very basic, legally-required services. In some cases they are being asked to cut professional corners and to stop delivering therapy to children who desperately need professional help.
‘Speech and language therapy is proven to be a cost-effective intervention and we know that early identification and intervention is vital to improving a child’s life chances. Sadly, the short-term approach to budget decisions that we are witnessing will not only cost more money in the long-term, but will have a significant and avoidable impact on a while generation of children.’
