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

• 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 communication skills

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. CapacitiesCapacities Demands

Abstract Vocabulary

Social Demands

Complex Conversation

Expressive

Receptive

The challengeOver 1M children in UK have a

communication difficultyAttainment V Inclusion

The role of the third sector

Support the workforce Provide information and resources

Raise awarenessShape policy

Conclusion

References continuedLee, 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%20Language%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%20Childrens%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

ReferencesAfasic, 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/publicationdetail/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/better-communication-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 10 th 2014, from: www.ican.org