According to the charity, this amounts to 1.9m children across the country who need help to reduce the chances of those children failing in school, developing mental health problems, being out of work and offending as young adults.
Jane Harris, chief executive, Speech and Language UK, said, ‘Sadly, this Parliament is ending with the biggest ever number of children with speech and language challenges in the UK. In the wake of the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, the next Government must act to stem the increasing tide of speech and language challenges.
‘If all political parties include our suggestions in their manifestos, the next government can change the futures of the 1.9 million children currently struggling with talking and understanding words. If they fail to act again, they will face increased costs in the education, mental health, criminal justice and welfare systems.’
In its manifesto ahead of the next general election, the charity is calling for the next Government to commit to:
- Giving all nurseries and schools free tools to spot children who are struggling with speech and language early.
- Giving schools and nurseries guidance on programmes to let teachers and early years staff know what type of help works best.
- Changing guidance on early years support: so that Family Hubs offer support as early as possible, rather than restricting funding to children aged three and over.
- Training for everyone who works with children: to spot children who are struggling and support their speech, language and communication skills.
- Fund an ‘ambitious campaign’ so that all new parents know how to support children’s language development alongside information on diet and vaccinations.
- Creating a proper workforce strategy for Speech and Language Therapists: so that children and families with lifelong speech and language challenges can get help within weeks rather than month or years.
The charity’s open letter is available to sign here