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Speech, Language and Communications Review launched by Ed Balls and Alan Johnson

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0162) issued by The Government News Network on 11 September 2007

A major review into the provision of services for children and young people with speech, language and communications needs is launched today by Children, Schools and Families Secretary of State Ed Balls and Health Secretary of State Alan Johnson.

The review, announced last week by the Prime Minister and led by John Bercow MP, will build on the investment and improvements to speech and language therapy and resources in the last 10 years.

It will advise the Government on how the very best provision can be mirrored in all areas, so every young person up to 19-years-old with speech and learning 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.

It will report by summer 2008 and the Government will formally respond in due course.

Over 89,000 school-aged children have speech and language difficulties as their primary special educational need, with more having lesser difficulties or being undiagnosed. The needs range from mild stammering to serious communication disabilities and stem from inherited conditions or difficulties caused by accident or illness.

The review 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; and

* transition to adult services

Ed Balls said:

"Effective communication and language skills are fundamental to young people's learning, developing social skills and fulfilling their potential.

"Children with communication disabilities face significant obstacles in their day-to-day lives, which is why we have put in place long-term investment and specialist resources to help them prosper. It is essential that professionals are trained and skilled in working with children who have difficulties - and we are funding initiatives to harness the expertise of the voluntary and community sector to early years services, schools and colleges.

"But we have more to do so all children get the support from speech and language therapists they need and to ensure local authorities, schools, professional services work together closer.

"The review will give us a clearer understanding of where our future priorities and efforts should focus - and I welcome having the experience, expertise and drive of John Bercow leading it."

Alan Johnson said:

"The ability to communicate is fundamental to psychological development and establishing meaningful relationships throughout life. If a child has a communication impairment it can adversely affect relationships with family and friends, limit their ability to develop at school and restrict their employment opportunities.

"The same problems can be faced by children from disadvantaged backgrounds where they may not be exposed to the same diversity of language, which can hinder the development of their own communication skills. Therefore, speech and language therapists have a significant public health role to play.

"Over the last 10 years, we have increased the number of speech and language therapists and worked hard to improve access to professional programmes to help children overcome early speech problems.

"This review will support commissioners in their role of identifying local need and purchasing appropriate services to ensure that every child who needs support with their communication gets it when they need it."

John Bercow said:

"I am very pleased to have been asked by Ed Balls and Alan Johnson to lead this review. Improving services for children with speech, language and communication difficulties is an issue dear to my heart and I have championed the cause vigorously in Parliament.

"The review provides an excellent opportunity to make a real difference for the benefit of vulnerable children. I welcome the chance to work on a non-partisan basis to identify a constructive way forward."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Since the Department for Education and Employment/Department of Health Report of the Working Group on Provision of Speech and Language Therapy Services to Children with Special Educational Needs (England) was published in November 2000, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has taken forward practical action to improve provision for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs, including

* a Standards Fund grant from 2000 to support enhancing speech and language support for pupils and its successor School Development Fund which can also be used for these purposes

* establishing a major initiative to equip children with assistive communication technology. The £21m Communication Aids Project (CAP) ran from 2002 to 2006 and provided equipment to some 4,000 children experiencing significant communication difficulties

* offered a £900,000 grant to assist the establishment of a new Communication Trust (I CAN, AFASIC, Council for Disabled Children), which was launched on 12 June 2007; and

* prioritising communication needs as the focus of the opening round of our £2m Inclusion Development Programme, to be launched on 17 October 2007 with roll out to local authorities starting in December. The aim is to offer confidence-raising training to teachers and others in working with children with communication difficulties

2. John Bercow was elected as Member of Parliament for Buckingham in May 1997. In November 1998, he was given the award of Backbencher to Watch in The Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. He has served as Front Bench Spokesman for Education & Employment and for Home Affairs. In September 2001, he was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. From July 2002 to November 2002, he was Shadow Minister for Work & Pensions. From November 2003 to September 2004, he was Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.

He is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on speech and language difficulties and is Vice-President of Afasic, a charity which promotes understanding, acceptance, equal opportunities and the inclusion ionto society of children and young adults with speech and language impairments.

He is married and has two young sons. He enjoys tennis, swimming, reading and music. He is a qualified lawn tennis coach.

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