Speech and Language UK launches manifesto for the next general election
Today, Speech and Language UK launches a manifesto calling for the 1.9 children with speech and language challenges to be a top priority for all political parties.
1 in 5 children in the UK are currently struggling with talking and understanding words and Speech and Language UK is calling on the next government to commit to:
- Training everyone who works with children: to spot children who are struggling and support their speech, language and communication skills.
- Creating tools for schools and nurseries: to give teachers free tools to monitor and track the development of a child’s speech, language and communication skills.
- Giving schools and nurseries guidance on programmes: to let teachers and early years staff know what type of help works best.
- Giving families the information they need: so that all new parents know how to support children’s language development alongside information on diet and vaccinations.
- 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.
- 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.
“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.”
Speech and Language UK is calling on all political parties to include its suggestions in their manifestos so that the next government can immediately start helping the 1.9 million children currently struggling with talking and understanding words and reduce the chances of those children failing in school, developing mental health problems, being out of work and offending as young adults.
Speech and Language UK’s full manifesto is available here.
Notes to editors:
For further details, contact Simon Walsh, Speech and Language UK Media and Publicity Manager via media@speechandlanguage.org.uk or call 07824 446989.
In 2023, Speech and Language UK published a report: ‘Listening to unheard children’ which found a growing number of children face challenges talking and understanding words – from an estimated 1.7 million in 2022 to 1.9 million in 2023 – a marked increase of 200,000.
Research has found that a child with speech and language challenges is at risk of:
- More mental health problems: 81% of children with emotional and behavioural disorders have significant speech and language challenges, often unidentified and 45% of young people referred for mental health services
- Worse literacy and numeracy: 6x more likely to be behind in English, 11x more likely to be behind in Maths at 11 years with only 15% gaining a 9-5 pass at GCSE in English and Maths.
- Increased risk of offending: At least 60% of young offenders have language difficulties.
- Less secure employment: 2x more likely to experience insecure employment as adults.
