Speech and Language UK responds to the ISOS report on Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

You can’t solve the problems in the SEND system without massively increasing support for the 1.9 million children struggling with talking and understanding words. Today’s report from the Local Government Association (LGA) and ISOS recognises this, and has identified some policies that might reduce some of the strain the current system is under.  

We have frequently asked for training for everyone who works with children to help them spot those who are struggling with talking and understanding words, and provide them with the support they need. We are glad to see this included in the report.  

Teachers and early years staff often mistake speech and language challenges for behaviour problems. It is unfair and damaging to treat children as if they are misbehaving when they don’t understand what they should be doing. As the report suggests, the Government should give teachers the tools and training they need at the beginning and throughout their careers.  

The report’s recommendation for a National Framework sounds similar to the Practitioner Standards mentioned in the SEND AP Improvement Plan published by the previous government last year. Work was already well underway at the Department for Education on writing the Practitioner Standard for speech and language in the early years, so we hope the new government will look at the work that’s already been done and build on it. 

We also welcome the suggestion of a National Workforce Strategy. There are simply not enough Speech and Language Therapists. Specialist support needs to be available faster and more easily for children with lifelong speech and language challenges. We will continue working with #SENDintheSpecialists coalition to push for a better workforce strategy. 

The LGA has made some excellent recommendations, and we hope the new government will carefully consider them. If government invests the money needed now, it will lead to long-term savings in unemployment benefits, youth justice and mental health. The fact is the current system is letting too many children and their families down. We need to see changes, and better funding all round. Only then will we be able to help the 1.9 million children struggling with talking and understanding words.

Jane Harris,  

Speech and Language UK 

Chief Executive 

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The Chief Executives of lead Disabled Children’s Partnership organisations (including Jane Harris, CEO of Speech and Language UK) also issued the below response to the findings of the  report by Isos Partnership commissioned by the County Councils Network and the Local Government Association, regarding Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND):

We shouldn’t have to rely on families taking legal action against councils for disabled children to get a decent education, or in some cases an education at all. Taking away families’ legal rights would only risk more children and their families being failed, because these rights are an essential safeguard when nothing else has worked.  What Government should do is give schools the right skills and enough money to be able to support the 1.7 million children in England with special educational needs. Until they do that, thousands of children will fail to learn and many will be unable to go to school at all.

For media enquiries, contact Simon Walsh Speech and Language UK Press Manager via media@speechandlanguage.org.uk or call 07824 446989.

Read more about the report’s findings here.