Speech and Language UK host ‘Talking in Lessons?’ panel at Labour Party Conference

On Sunday 22nd September, we hosted our ‘Talking in Lessons?’ panel at The Labour Party conference in Liverpool.  

Right now, 1.9 million children in the UK. are struggling with talking and understanding words. Labour have committed to an early language intervention in every school and placing speaking skills at the heart of the curriculum. The panel discussed whether talking in lessons will transform outcomes for children, including those in disadvantaged areas and those with SEND, or will it simply put more pressure on an already stretched education system?  

The Chair of the event was John Camp OBE, the Immediate Past President of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and current CEO of The Compass Partnership of Schools. 

Speakers at the event included: 

David Baines MP for St Helens North 

Ellen and Roisin Dormer, Ellen has Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and her mum Roisin is a teacher of over 15 years’ experience 

Andy Moor, CEO of the Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust  

Janeen Hayat, Director of Collective Action at the Fair Education Alliance  

Jane Harris, CEO of Speech and Language UK 

The topic generated a lively debate amongst the panel and highlights included: 

Jane Harris, CEO of Speech and Language UK, stated that to transform standards in education, children struggling to talk and understand words must be a priority. Jane also highlighted the link between early language skills and later academic success, whilst expressing concern at the Government’s approach, which includes a single early language intervention programme and no mention of speaking skills in the curriculum review’s ‘Terms of Reference’ despite their manifesto commitments. 

Janeen Hayat from Fair Education Alliance told the panel and attendees that employers often find young people lacking in communication skills, particularly those from low-income households. Also, the impact speech and language challenges have on attendance, exclusion rates, and teacher retention. Janeen suggested a holistic approach that includes support for families and communities. 

David Baines MP emphasised the importance of early intervention and support for children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He expressed optimism about the current government’s commitment to addressing these issues and was pleased about the increasing number of MPs with backgrounds in education. 

Andy Moor discussed the challenges faced by schools in supporting children with speech and language challenges. He highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach involving teachers, support staff, and external organisations. David reinforced the need for a curriculum review that prioritises spoken language and communication skills. 

Róisín Dormer shared the story of her daughter Ellen, who has Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). Roisin described the challenges Ellen faces in education and daily life due to her condition. She also highlighted the lack of awareness and support for DLD, and the impact this can have on future outcomes for children with Developmental Language Disorder. 

What needs to change? 

As the discussion ended, overall, the panel agreed that the needs of the child must be at the heart of any changes to the education system. Introducing tools and training in schools will support this and help teachers spot and support children struggling at different stages of their education. The panel discussed the need for early intervention and support across all stages of education.  

Speech and Language UK believes that speech, language and communication skills are necessary to acquire knowledge in all curriculum areas. We also know that employers value these skills highly. We recommend creating an inclusive curriculum that emphasises speech, language and communication skills across all subjects, and that all children, have the support they need to succeed.  

We’ve launched a new report: ‘Getting in early: Speech and language interventions that transform children’s lives’ calling on the government to uphold its commitment to funding early language interventions and to provide better support for early speech and language development.  

You can read our new report here.