The Need
As highlighted by Better Communication: Shaping Speech,
language and communication services for children and
young people
(Gascoigne, 2012)
• Approximately 7- 10% of children have SLCN.
• More than 50% of children in socially deprived areas have language
delay
• Increasing need from 2005-2010 with numbers of children with SLCN
as a primary need increasing by 58%
• It is also a significant secondary need as SLCN occurs with almost
every other type of special educational need
• The centre for social justice called communicatiuon disability ‘the
number 1 public health challenge for 21st century’
As highlighted by Speech, language and communication
in secondary aged children
(ICAN)
• Some children’s SLCN only comes to light in secondary school,
due to the demands by the the curriculum and social
environment
• This evidences the need for continued SLT support at this
stage
• Mainstream services should aim to narrow the gap between
socially disadvantaged children and their peers (Gascoigne,
2012)
• SLT should aim to integrate special needs services into the
mainstream setting (Gascoigne, 2006)
• Speech therapy should be integrated within the education
setting (Every Child Matters)
The Impact of no support
• Language difficulties pervade all aspects of life, impacting on social and
educational outcomes (Gascoigne, 2006)
• Children with vocabulary difficulties at age 5 were 1 and a half times
more likely to have literacy difficulties or a mental health problem at
age 34. They were also twice as likely to be unemployed (Gascoigne,
2012)
• 60% of young people in young offender institutions have
communication difficulties - poor to very poor communication skills
(Bercow Report)
• SLCN causes emotional and behavioural and difficulties problems
forming social relationships in adolescence (ICAN)
• 88% of unemployed young men are found to have language difficulties
(ICAN)
• Without speech therapy intervention a third of children with SLCN will
need treatment for mental health difficulties in adult life (Gascoigne,
2012)
What’s Effective
• There is substantial evidence that intervention including speech
and language therapy can improve children’s language and
communication skills. (Gascoigne, 2006)
• The every child a talker has been effective, showing an average
40% reduction in the proportion of children with delayed
listening and attention (Gascoigne, 2006)
There is substantial evidence from the BETTER
COMMUNICATION RESEARCH PROGRAMME (a Bercow
initiative) that intervention including speech and language
therapy can improve children’s language and
communication skills.
The Cost of No Support
• The impact of all of these later difficulties is a considerable
cost to the nation due to increased need for additional
services and loss of earnings.
-for example:
Direct costs of mental health in England are now around £22.5
billion a year
Some youth offenders’ institutes with very basic education and
training (including SLT) each cost more than £200,000 a year.
References
• Gascoigne, M. (2012). Better Communication- Shaping speech, language and
communication services for children and young people. RCSLT: London.
• ICAN (2011). I CAN Talk: Speech, Language and Communication in Secondary
Aged Pupils. London: ICAN.
• Gascoigne, M. (2006). Supporting Children with Speech, Language and
Communication Needs Within Integrated Children’s Services. . RCSLT position
paper. RCSLT: London.
• HM Government. (2003) Every Child Matters. London: TSO
• Bercow, J. (2008). The Bercow Report: A review of services for children and
young people (0-19) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs.
Nottingham: DCSF
• Department of Health (2004). National Service Framework for children,
young people and maternity service: Core Standards. Department of Health.