Welcome to our presentation on:
Mainstream Primary and Secondary
School Provision of Speech, Language and
Communication Services
Some of the things we will discuss:
• The importance of communication and how
having SLCN can massively impact a child’s life
• What would improve services and why it can
be difficult to do so
• Other risk factors, such as social deprivation,
demands and capacities
Bercow Report 2008
Identified 5 key themes
• Communication is crucial
• Early identification and intervention are essential
• Continuum of services designed around the family is
needed
• Joint working is critical
• Current system is characterised by high variability
and lack of equity
Communication – An Essential Life Skill
• Approximately 7% 5 year olds entering school
in England in 2007 had SLCN
• SLCN may be a child’s primary education need.
• Children with SLCN commonly have problems
with reading, writing & accessing the
curriculum
Recommendations
• Training the workforce
• Strengthening the evidence base
• Better Communication Research Programme
(BCRP)
Better Communication (2008)
• Communication is a must have skill for
children and young people and is in the
bedrock of learning.
• Language and communication
difficulties affect 7-10% of all
children.
The Basics: RCSLT
• Education staff should be able
to incorporate SLT aims
• Intervention should facilitate
access to the National
Curriculum
• Collaborative working
strategies are most effective.
Funding – Please sir we need more!!
Primary school
• Evidence suggests that speech and language
skills that are not well developed in the early
school years impact on education attainment,
employment and well being.
• Providing services in school enables services
to target all children and may reduce
inequality in access to services.
Political context
• New national curriculum
• Children and families bill
• Some key policies are up for review
• Financial difficulties
• General election 2015
Secondary Schools: ICAN
‘A focus on speech, language and
communication is seen by some as the
key for young people to fit into society,
making a case for it to be central to
raising attainment, socialization and
increasing life chances.’
ICAN Talk Series: Issue 10
Communication skills in
adolescence (ICAN)
Young people need effective speech, language
and communication needs for:
• Access to a wide range of life choices
• Healthy emotional development
• Socialisation
Poor communication
skills
• Increase the risk of emotional, social and
behavioural difficulties
• Increase risk of mental health issues
• Lower academic achievement affecting future
employment prospects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxB1gB6K-2A
Poor Language Associated
with Social Deprivation
Secondary School Studies
Inner city secondary schools have poorer
outcomes than schools in less deprived areas
• 75% of pupils had communication difficulties
• Twice as many unidentified language
difficulties
Demands vs. Capacities
Capacities
Demands
The challenge
Over 1M children in UK have a
communication difficulty
Attainment V Inclusion
The role of the third sector
Support the workforce
Provide information and resources
Raise awareness
Shape policy
Conclusion
References continued
Lee, W., (2008). Speech Language and Communication and primary school aged children ( Issue 6).
Retrieved on March 4th 2014, form :
http://www.ican.org.uk/~/media/Ican2/Whats%20the%20Issue/Evidence/6%20Speech%20%20Langua
ge%20and%20Communication%20Needs%20and%20Primary%20School%20aged%20Children.ashx
Morgan, L. (2008). Speech, language and communication and the children's workforce. Retrieved on
March 20th 2014, from:
http://www.ican.org.uk/~/media/Ican2/Whats%20the%20Issue/Evidence/5%20ICT%20SLC%20and%20
Childrens%20Workforce.ashx
Pullen, P., & Justice, L. M. 2003. Capitalizing on the preschool years: Strategies for increasing literacy
prerequisites. Intervention in School and Clinic.39(2), 87-98.
RCSLT (2006) Communicating Quality, 3rd edition, RCSLT: London.
RCSLT. (2011). Guidance on quality standards for local authority and schools as commissioners of
speech and language services in UK. Retrieved 4th March 2014, from:
http://www.rcslt.org/docs/quality_standards_scools_2011
References
Afasic, Home page: http://www.afasic.org.uk/
Bercow Report (2008): A Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with Speech, Language and Communication
Needs , available at :
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationde
tail/page1/DCSF-00632-2008 [19.03.14]
Communication Trust, Home page: https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/
Gascoigne, M.T. (2012). Better Communication: Shaping speech, language and communications services for young people.
Retrieved on March 4th 2014, from : http://www.rcslt.org/speech_and_language_therapy/commissioning/better_communication
GOV.UK (2012), Better Communication Research Programme, available at : https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bettercommunication-research-programme [19.03.14]
Hope, M. (2014). Feature: Special educational Needs. Bulletin. London: RCSLT
I CAN. (2011). Speech Language and Communication in Secondary Age Pupils (Issue 10). Retrieved on March 10th 2014, from:
www.ican.org