Department for Education
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John Bercow seeks views on provision for children with speech, language and communications needs
Parents, health and education professionals are being asked for their views on specialist provision for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs.
The formal "call for evidence" is a key part of the independent review into speech and language provision, led by John Bercow MP - the first review for seven years.
The review, launched last month, was commissioned by the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls and Health Secretary, Alan Johnson.
It will make recommendations on how the very best provision can be mirrored in all areas, so every young person up to 19-years-old with speech and language difficulties gets support as early as possible. It will also advise on how local services can work closer together so children get the support they need, when they need it.
The review's website is being launched today - with a formal list of questions for the call for evidence being published on it shortly. The final report will be published in summer 2008 and the Government will respond afterwards.
Over 89,000 school-aged children have speech and language difficulties as their primary special educational needs, with more having lesser difficulties or being undiagnosed. The needs range from mild stammering to serious communication difficulties caused by accident or illness.
John Bercow said:
"I am determined that this independent, non-partisan review should make a real difference to the lives of young people with communication needs, their parents and the professionals that work with them.
"I know that where the system works well, young people get the support they need and deserve. But there is more work to be done to ensure that young people get the support they need, at the earliest possible opportunity.
"My review and expert advisers are looking at what works, where problems lie and what practical reforms and improvements can be made. Today's call for evidence will be another vital part to building a comprehensive picture of the provision of services around the country.
"I have already started visiting speech, language and communication services but we need the active involvement and engagement with the people that matter most - children themselves, parents, schools, local authorities, speech and language therapists and professionals from across the NHS."
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said:
"It's critically important that young people with language disabilities get specialist intervention as early as possible so that they can play an active and fulfilled role in society throughout their entire lives.
"The Government has done a great deal to invest in language support in recent years but I know parents want us to do more. That means local authorities, schools and the NHS working even closer together. I look forward to the review presenting some hard, practical recommendations to improving the quality and provision of services."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. For more details on the Review, go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/bercowreview/index.shtml
2. All views can be posted to John Bercow at Bercow.Review@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
3. The Bercow Review's formal terms of reference were published last month. It will advise on:
* the range and composition of universal and specialist services to best identify and meet the diversity of needs and secure value for money within the context of the Comprehensive Spending Review and available resources;
* how planning and performance management arrangements and effective co-operation between government departments and responsible local agents can be used to promote early intervention and to improve services;
* examples of good practice in commissioning and delivering services which are responsive to the needs of children, young people and families and which can be viewed as benchmarks for the delivery of local services across the country.
Specific issues to be considered by the review will include:
* how the health service commissioning framework ensures sufficient and responsive speech and language therapy services to meet local needs;
* clarity of accountability and responsibility for planning and service delivery from national to local level across health, social services and education, including joint and consistent priorities;
* strategic, professional and operational leadership of services;
* recruitment and deployment of NHS speech and language therapists, particularly those specialising in working with children;
* analysing good practice in joint working by education and health services, particularly joint commissioning, including needs assessment and design of service delivery;
* the balance between intervention in the early years and provision to children and young people throughout the age range; including those in vulnerable situations such as those at risk of offending or re-offending;
* how to further improve workforce skills in early years settings and schools;
* effective provision of assistive and augmentative communication technology;
* improving support and information for parents;
* young people's transition to adult services
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