Language Link
Developing children’s language skills in
Key Stage 1
October 2012
1
Language Link
Identifying and supporting children’s language can help with your
school’s attainment and behaviour.
What is it?





The largest language (comprehension) screening test in the UK.
An online screening tool (Reception Year – and beyond).
Most of East Sussex Primary Schools (122) used the screen last year.
Allows one consistent, blanket screen of language across children in East
Sussex schools.
It is used to: raise awareness and help children’s language in school; as
evidence to refer to speech and language therapy; or to set up further
language support/training with the Language and Learning Support Service
(LLSS).
Why is it important?




Research shows that language is the key building block for all subsequent
learning, attainment, attention and behaviour. Weaker language skills are
shown to be related to poorer attainment in literacy, numeracy and result in a
greater incidence of behaviour difficulties.
Receptive language is often the ‘hidden difficulty’ and the missing part of the
picture.
Language Link could help improve attainment and behaviour!
Language Link has been shown to improve language levels in East Sussex
Schools, owing to subsequent awareness and support.
Figure 1. Language is the building block for all subsequent learning.
2
Impact

Schools screen all of their reception class and then re-assess those that are
highlighted as weaker (requiring additional Class Based Support) or severe
(requiring Speech and Language Therapy input) after a period of 6 months or
so.
Table 1. A summary of the initial and re-test data is presented below:
Number at
INITIAL test
Class Based
Support
(weak/below
average language)
Severe
(Speech Language
Referral)
Number at RETEST
CBS (weak)
Significant
275
25
8
113
29
19
Summary Charts
Chart 1.
The percentage of those identified as having weak language
(requiring class based support) at initial and re-test.
3
Chart 2.
The percentage of those identified as having severe language
weakness (requiring language therapy support) at initial and re-test.
Key Findings

Those requiring additional, class based support reduced from 14.9 to 2.9%.

A reduction of those with severe difficulties (requiring a speech and language
therapy referral) reduced from 6.1% to 1.5%.

Even more pronounced success is seen in children with EAL.

Large numbers of children: 250 boys and over 150 girls, required additional
support and input of some kind, according to initial assessments.

This shows that more than 400 children were underperforming in the
foundation skills required for later learning. Language Link helped to identify
and raise awareness for teachers in order to further improve skills in this area.
4
Further Information:

Receptive language is often the ‘hidden’ difficulty.

One in ten children has difficulty with speech, language and communication. In
areas of high social deprivation this figure rises to almost one in two.

Only a quarter of children with speech, language and communication needs reach
the expected levels for their age in English and Maths at age 11.

More than seven out of ten children with speech, language and communication
needs at 5 still have them at 12 (Beitchman et al 1994).

Two thirds of 7-14 year olds with serious behaviour problems have language
impairment (Cohen et al 1998).

Two thirds of young offenders have language difficulties (Bryan, 2009).
It works!
Language Link and the Language and Learning Support Service (LLSS) is used
to successfully support groups in schools

Using a language screen, language groups were organised for those scoring
lowest. Below provides a ‘snap shot’ of pupil progress (in percentiles, over a six
month period) following direct LLSS input to schools:
Example 1 – East Sussex primary school showing initial and re-test 2011/2012
5
Example 2 - East Sussex primary school showing initial and re-test 2011/2012
To subscribe:
Language Link (Speech Link Media Ltd):
6
Tel:
Email:
0845 257 5084
office2@speechlink.co.uk
For general support:
Paul.eames@eastsussex.gov.uk
7