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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