Speech and Language UK response to the Government’s rollout of Best Start Family Hubs

Jane Harris, Chief Executive, Speech and Language UK, said:  “We welcome the Government’s renewed focus on early years support through the national rollout of Best Start Family Hubs. Giving every child the best start in life is a vital mission — and one that must include dedicated, sustained support for the two million children with speech and language challenges.

“We are particularly encouraged to see a strong emphasis on early language development. The importance of talking to and engaging with a baby, from the very earliest days — even before birth — cannot be overstated. Families need consistent, evidence-based information and support across all services to understand how they can help nurture their child’s communication skills.

“However, to truly deliver on this vision the early years workforce must be trained and equipped with the knowledge and tools to understand how speech and language skills develop — and how to identify and support children who may be struggling. This training must be embedded into staff training and practice across all levels of the system, especially among early years practitioners and family hub staff.

“To be sure of children having the best start in life, we need all early years staff to understand how to support speech and language development. If government is serious about improving early years outcomes, it must relaunch the Early Years Professional Development Programme which was proven to improve staff’s knowledge so they can change children’s futures.

“Best Start Family Hubs must then offer access to a wide range of evidence-based programmes and tools to help spot speech and language challenges early and intervene effectively. Early identification and support can prevent long-term challenges in education, wellbeing and life chances.

“We look forward to working with government, local authorities and partners to ensure this ambitious programme is implemented in a way that delivers real impact — ensuring all children and especially those with speech and language challenges, start school with the communication skills they need to learn, thrive and fulfil their potential at school and throughout their life.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

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About Speech and Language UK 

For at least two million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle. We work to give every child the skills they need to face the future with confidence.  We design innovative tools and training for thousands of early years staff and teachers to use in their classrooms. We run two special schools for children with complex speech and language challenges, Dawn House in Nottinghamshire and Meath in Surrey. We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. And we put pressure on politicians to prioritise help for speech and language challenges.

We demand a country in which every child with challenges in talking and understanding words has the skills they need to face the future with confidence.