A Generation Adrift · children’s language (building on children’s language from their starting point). They weave talking and listening opportunities into the fabric of their

A Generation Adrift The case for speech, language and communication to take a central role in schools’ policy and practice

Introduction ............................................................................................. 5

The good news ....................................................................................... 6

The context ............................................................................................. 9

So, what’s the problem? ....................................................................10

Falling behind matters .......................................................................12

Missed, misinterpreted, misunderstood ........................................14

What’s going wrong? ..........................................................................16

What’s needed? ...................................................................................18

Making it happen .................................................................................26

References .............................................................................................28

The case for speech, language and communication to take a central role in schools’ policy and practice

A Generation Adrift

Communication is at the core of what we do in business, education and socially. Never before in our history have we been able to communicate as quickly and widely as we can today. There’s no doubt we know good communication when we see it; individuals who can articulate their thoughts and ideas, can use their language to explain new concepts or describe their experiences. They can really listen and understand other perspectives and can hold an audience, regardless of who and how many.

At the foundation of all communication is language – words, which are made up of sounds, constructed and combined into sentences with meaning and used to interact with those around us. This is the same whether we are talking, listening, writing, reading, texting, e-mailing or sharing information on Twitter or Facebook. In essence, communication is being able to listen and talk to each other in order to connect; to structure our thoughts and transform them into a medium that allows them to be shared. The foundation of all communication is human language and although it’s easily taken for granted, it’s the most complex skill we will ever learn.

Bearing in mind the importance of communication in today’s society, surely we want our young people to develop the stongest language and communication skills they are capable of?

The sad reality is this isn’t happening. According to employers, even our graduates lack the communication skills needed for the workplace and at the other end of the scale too many children are struggling to develop basic language and communication as they progress through their educational journey. These children have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Currently they aren’t being identified early or well enough and aren’t being supported to develop their communication skills - impacting on progress and prospects.

The long term impact of SLCN is well documented; impact on attainment, progression and wider social, behavioural and emotional outcomes. We know for example, children with SLCN are at higher risk of exclusion from school1 and that 60-90% of young people in the youth justice system have SLCN, many of which aren’t identified before offending.2 3

Language is complex; multifaceted and multilayered and children can be very good at hiding their language difficulties, showing other ‘symptoms’ that are more tangible, recognisable or easier to understand – poor literacy, poor behaviour, low self esteem and few friendships.

Supporting language and knowing when children are struggling is not hugely difficult; often it’s a ‘tweak’ to good practice, meshed with basic knowledge of language development. It’s the questions we ask ourselves about why children are struggling combined with the reflective practice common to all good practitioners. We need to understand the language we can expect at different ages and stages and we need to know how we can adapt our own language to ensure children and young people are understanding what’s being said, to show them how to use their language for learning and to ensure we are identifying and supporting all those children who are struggling.

This paper aims to bring together the evidence around why we must focus on speech, language and communication skills, which are important in their own right and as a vehicle for learning, social interaction, inclusion and independence, for all children and young people and particularly for those who have SLCN. It also highlights the fact that these skills can be supported and aims to provide a call to action to achieve this with practical, evidenced solutions.

Introduction

A Generation Adrift 5

The foundation of all communication is human language and although it’s easily taken for granted, it’s the most complex skill we will ever learn.

In many schools, the majority of children (around 90%) come into school with well developed language and communication skills. Before starting school, they have experienced good quality and quantity of talk from the adults around them. They’ve had opportunities for lots of practice to talk, listen and understand, to hone their language and communication skills.

These children usually have clear speech, a good vocabulary, age appropriate grammar and narrative skills. They can have conversations and are able to listen well and understand what’s said to them by both peers and teachers. They can interact both to socialise and to facilitate and develop their own learning and can communicate what they know and don’t know. They can use their language to think and can express their ideas clearly, confidently and courteously.

In some UK classrooms, teachers capitalise on these skills. They use good quality and quantity of talk in a way that models more sophisticated language for learning and scaffolds children’s language (building on children’s language from their starting point). They weave talking and listening opportunities into the fabric of their lessons, they ask ‘why’ and shift their language to accommodate the most and least able children in the class.

In these classrooms, children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) can access learning at their level, the language used by the teacher acts as a route to learning, rather than a barrier. Teachers who take this approach know the language level at which their pupils are functioning and take responsibility for ensuring they understand what they are taught.

These teachers have clear expectations of what they want children to learn. They teach children how to listen, attend and focus on key information; they consistently highlight and revisit key vocabulary and ensure children understand; they create a learning environment where seeking clarification is valued and celebrated. They give clear structures for spoken language contributions; they model what it looks like to think and to reason in order to learn; to use language for solving problems; to interact in groups; they make thought processes explicit to the children and show how conclusions can be reached. They are aware of their pupils’ levels of language and adapt their own language accordingly.

All children and young people would benefit from talk being an integral element occupying a prime position in teaching and learning across subjects and throughout the curriculum. A focus on talk in the classroom can significantly enhance the way all children respond to schooling, in all subjects.4 Talk is the vehicle for all learning and the gateway to literacy skills – if children can’t say a sentence or explain a concept, they will struggle to understand or express it through reading or writing.

We also know much about whatsupports children who are strugglingand the barriers that prevent them getting that support. The recent landmark Better Communication Research Programme (BCRP) was able to highlight interventions and approaches that are effective for children and young people with SLCN.5

Adults in educational settings play a key role in supporting spoken language and the development of a classroom learning environment which fosters language for thinking and learning.6

Strong and knowledgeable school leaders can make a real difference to children as they progress through school.

The good news

A focus on talk in the classroom can significantly enhance the way all children respond to schooling, in all subjects.

‘…talk – at home, in school, among peers – is education at its most elemental and potent. It is the aspect of teaching which has arguably the greatest influence on learning.’ Cambridge Primary Review, 2009

6 A Generation Adrift


There have been some positive changes since John Bercow MP carried out his review in 2008 which found a fundamental lack of understanding of communication, alongside a national inequity of provision and support for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Communication has a growing presence in national policy, particularly in education policy:

D Language and communication is now one of the three core strands of the early years foundation stage8

D Recommendations made by the Nutbrown Review of early years education, highlighted the importance of a qualified workforce in the early years who understand how to develop young children’s language skills9

D Both the Allen Review of Early Intervention10 and the Field’s Review of the Foundation Years11 made made clear that language and communication development at age 3 was one of the major National Life Chances Indicators for children

D Communication has a strong position in the new Ofsted inspection framework, both in relation to teaching and learning and with a focus on those children who don’t attain well

D The Education Select Committee on Behaviour and Discipline in Schools made very powerful recommendations around the link between SLCN and behaviour

D The Primary National Curriculum Expert Panel concluded that spoken language should be a strong feature of any new National Curriculum and dedicated a chapter of their report to it

D The secondary curriculum now includes elements of communication within specific subject areas, as well as English

D There is a focus on language in the Department of Health Healthy Child Programme and 2 year check

However, there continues to be a way to go to ensure policy reflects other necessary changes:

D Systematic initial and continued professional development for teachers to support knowledge and skills of speech, language and communication and SLCN

D Continued need for a graduated response to support all children’s speech, language and communication

D Accurate profiling and careful monitoring of progression for children with SLCN in schools

D Integrated service provision of speech and language therapy services

D Real joined up policy for children with SLCN / Special Educational Needs as outlined in the forthcoming Children and Families Bill

Through Hello, the national year of communication (2011),12 there has been a shift in awareness of communication. The national campaign, with support from more than 200 local co-ordinators, supported parents, teachers and other professionals to gain a greater understanding of the issue. The Hello evaluation demonstrated positive changes in the understanding of the issue, though there remains a long way to go.13

There remains a need to translate the positive changes seen in national policy to equal shifts in local practice as currently there is a very large gap between the two. Both research and anecdotal feedback from grass roots professionals stress the huge challenges that remain in ensuring children with SLCN are identified and supported through local service provision.

The context


‘It is a skill which has to be taught, honed and nurtured. Yet… children’s ability to communicate, to speak and understand [is] taken for granted’ Bercow Report, 20087

Communication has a strong position in the new Ofsted inspection framework.

There are shockingly large numbers of children in the UK struggling to acquire language. Many of these children aren’t being accurately identified or supported. Identification is key across all phases of education. These children can be difficult to identify and may have complex needs, so an ongoing focus is absolutely imperative. The impact of SLCN cuts across the whole of their development; learning, attainment, behaviour, self esteem, inclusion, independence and long term life prospects.

We know from national figures that by the time they reach five years of age, (the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage) more than a third of children are not working securely in communication, language and literacy. In deprived areas, this number rises to more than four in ten.15

We know that 50%16 of children in areas of social disadvantage start school with poor language, with language that isn’t adequate for the next stage of learning, for thinking, reasoning and communicating effectively with adults and peers. For example, children from low income families lag behind by nearly one year in vocabulary at school entry, with gaps in language much larger than gaps in other cognitive skills.17 These children are at a disadvantage from the start and without the right support don’t catch up with their peers.18 A recent CBI report highlighted that children who are failing to achieve adequate standards in primary education come disproportionately from disadvantaged backgrounds. 19 Children need language to learn.

So, what’s the problem?‘Communication disorders will be a major public health concern for the 21st century because, untreated, they adversely affect the economic well-being of a communication-age society.’ Ruber, 200014


In some areas of deprivation, more than 50% of children start school with SLCN.

10% of all children have long-term SLCN.

7% of all children have a specific language impairment.

1% of all children have severe and complex SLCN.

There’s a significant group of children who have a rich communication experience, with lots of support from parents, though despite this will have a specific language impairment.20 7% of all children have a specific language impairment; it’s the most prevalent childhood disability, but a condition that is much misunderstood. These children also start school without the language they need in order to learn and are disadvantaged from the start. Children within this group have differing needs, dependent on the nature and severity of their difficulties. They need specialist support in order to learn and communicate to the very best of their ability.

At least 3% of all children have SLCN linked with other impairments, including those with hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorders, specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia and general learning needs. In fact, the majority of children with SEN have some degree of SLCN. They too need support in order to learn and to communicate to the very best of their ability.

So, the problem is the scale of the issue, both in quantity of children and the impact of SLCN; most children with SEN have SLCN, some children have specific language imapairments and around half of the children in areas of social disadvantage can have SLCN. Language difficulties impact across all areas of development and on longer term prospects. Children need language to learn, socialise, to manage their behaviour and develop emotionally.


Language has critical importance for learning and wider development,21 however, many children are starting school already behind, with evidence to suggest that without the right support, they don’t catch up. Falling behind really does matter; it can affect self-esteem, behaviour and engagement with education.22

Good spoken language skills are strong predictors of later academic success. Children with poor language and literacy development at 5 years are at substantial risk of low achievement at 7 years23 and beyond.24 Good spoken language predicates reading and writing,25 26 with literacy gaps often widening as children progress through school. 27

Research tells us that early vocabulary and concept development is especially critical for children from low and moderate income homes,28 with vocabulary at age 5 a strong predictor of the qualifications achieved at school leaving age and beyond.29 Major recent research shows language impairment as a risk factor for low achievement, with language difficulties important factors for predicting attainment on Key Stage 1 and 2 English and Maths national curriculum tests.30 Research has also shown older pupils experiencing greater levels of need than those identified at younger ages.31 At the end of Key Stage 4, the ‘attainment gap’ between children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and their peers is marked. Just 15% of young people with SLCN achieve 5 GCSE A*- C or equivalent compared to 57% of all young people.32 As the most prevalent childhood disability, this adds up to a lot of children.

However, language plays more than just an underpinning role for the acquisition of literacy and academic attainment. It’s also important for the wider outcomes we want for our young people. Talk and social interaction play a key role in all children’s social development.33 Language is the vehicle for organising, problem-solving, managing and evaluating experiences, influencing and informing; all crucial skills for the classroom and beyond.34

Language ability can also impact massively on behavioural and emotional development;35 even in early development, language levels directly impact on self-regulation skills of children and therefore on their behaviour.36 We know many children with SLCN have significant behavioural difficulties, some of which mask underlying impairments in language.37 Others are withdrawn, which means they’re less likely to start conversations, are more likely to play alone and research suggests they’re less liked by others in their class. These social, emotional and behavioural components can impact massively on children and young people, meaning poorer long term social outcomes.38

The good news is that we know many approaches that work in supporting children with SLCN, mitigating against the long term impact of not understanding or being understood. We know from evidenced approaches and interventions what can make a difference. However, there remains some way to go in translating this knowledge into every day practice.

Falling behind matters

Falling behind really does matter; it can affect self-esteem, behaviour and engagement with education.




Misinterpreted Children and young people with SLCN often have academic, emotional and behavioural difficulties that pose a challenge to the professionals working with them.45 SLCN can be difficult to spot and the nature of the difficulties can change over time, often becoming more complex.46

Ofsted have also reported examples of children’s SLCN being misinterpreted; some children and young people ‘were allocated support for their behaviour when, in fact, they had specific communication needs.’47

Missed, misinterpreted, misunderstood…

Missed Although numbers of children and young people identified in schools with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) as their primary need has increased by around 70% over the last 6 years, there remain true challenges.39 Despite internationally accepted prevalence figures of 7%, only 3% of the school population is ever identified as having SLCN.40 Children are being missed.

Identification of SLCN still challenges professionals, with continued variability in age and process of identification continuing throughout the school years.41 Research found parent concern alone or even in combination with professional screening insufficiently reliable as an indicator of need.42 43 Exacerbating this issue is the fact that the terminology used to describe, diagnose or categorise children is often used inconsistently across disciplines and services and there remains a lack of clarity about what’s meant by SLCN.

Despite committed and experienced staff, current policy and practice isn’t enabling consistent identification of all children with SLCN, far from it. In The Communication Trust’s Talk of the Town programme, an average of around 40% of children were not being identified; most difficult to spot were older students, students who had difficulties with vocabulary (45% not identified), those who struggled with formulating sentences (52% not identified) and children with difficulties understanding (29% not identified). 48% in Key Stage 3 were not identified. This, despite a highly committed staff team.44

Case study

James was referred to speech and language therapy when he was 10 years old. The school believed he was either dyslexic or had learning difficulties. He was a quiet, hard working member of the class; he could read fluently and accurately, but couldn’t understand what he had read. His language assessment showed his understanding of vocabulary and grammar to be on the first percentile; his understanding of language was extremely poor. James was extremely bright and had become adept at hiding his significant language impairment.


Misunderstood The Better Communication Research Programme (BCRP) research indicates strongly that national curriculum data and/or establishing a pupil’s primary need provides insufficient information to plan services and differentiate the curriculum. The research highlights the fundamental importance of profiling and monitoring children’s needs, rather than providing support by diagnosis or category, which can result in challenges of identification and issues regarding meeting the changing nature of children and young people’s needs.48 49

‘The best people, they understand the nature of my condition - I’d say that was the most important thing.’

What’s going wrong?

High quality classroom talk is a key factor in improving pupil engagement and outcomes.

‘…there is grossly inadequate recognition across society of the importance of communication development, let alone the active steps needed to facilitate it.’ Bercow Report, 200850


High quality classroom talk is a key factor in improving pupil engagement and outcomes.51 We know that just the way in which teachers talk to children and young people can influence learning, memory, understanding and the motivation to learn.52 Research has shown that the quality of spoken dialogue in primary classrooms can significantly improve children’s educational attainment, from increasing SAT scores in Maths and Science, to improving reading comprehension, writing and reasoning skills.53 Despite this strong raft of evidence, high quality classroom talk is not the norm. A criticism in the recent Crossroads report is that talk is rarely planned and developed explicitly in classrooms.54 Language continues to have a low profile in our schools and education policy. Why is this?

Language isn’t immediately tangible. It’s the least taught and trained for, yet is the most used skill. Although a truly cross curricular vehicle for learning, spoken language currently sits predominantly in the Literacy curriculum, though is given less focus than the written word, both within the curriculum and with the training and development of teachers and other professionals. A recent report by the Centre for Social Justice recommended a key performance indicator should be introduced for communication competency in primary schools.55

Terminology The term speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) is defined and used in different ways by different people; i.e. schools’ plasc data use SLCN to refer to children with primary speech, language and communication needs – those with specific language impairment. Conversely, The Bercow Review uses SLCN as an umbrella term to include all and any children with SLCN, including children with other impairments or learning needs. In practice, specialist and generalist practitioners use the terms in different ways.

There can be miscommunication and inconsistency of services as a result; currently services tend to be diagnosis led, which raises challenges when diagnostic labels are misunderstood and inconsistently used.

In current policy, varied terms are used that relate to speech, language and communication skills; for example, articulacy,56 oracy57 and communication skills.58 Whilst they may be essentially referring to the same skills, these different terms are open to a wide range of interpretation, which could lead to inconsistency and confusion and dilute the potential for transforming the way that pupils’ communication skills are developed in schools.

Workforce development Children with SLCN need support at all levels, in the classroom as well as by specialists. Children are very clear about what works for them – other people’s behaviour and understanding is paramount.59 However, there’s a need for workforce development, both in initial training and as continual professional development (CPD) as children with SLCN can and do fall through the gaps in professional knowledge and in the system.

There remain huge challenges for teachers and other practitioners in effectively identifying and supporting children and young people with SLCN. Particular challenges for teachers are in changing classroom practice, with research showing the need for systematic professional development. Teachers themselves express a lack of confidence in knowing how to support children and young people with SLCN.60

Often, lessons are dominated by teacher talk which rarely improves spoken language or enhances learning.61 Four decades ago, the Bullock Report62 calculated that pupils had on average a 20 second window to each contribute verbally in a 45-minute lesson. Recent research suggests things have not greatly improved. One survey of secondary schools in an inner city identified adults talking for up to 90% of the time63 and more recent research put the average length of a pupil’s contribution to class discussion at just four words.64 Research has indicated that variations in the quality and quantity of the language that children

experience in their homes65 and educational environments66 strongly influence individual differences in the rate of children’s language growth and later language outcomes.

In a recent report, Ofsted found new teachers didn’t have a solid knowledge of language development and struggled to adapt their own language for those children with poor language skills. The need for high quality training during initial teacher education in these areas was highlighted as important in order to support teachers to do this.67

Services and supportChildren and young people with SLCN not only fall through the gaps in professional expertise but also in how support is paid for and delivered. Prevention and early identification need as much consideration as specialist services for those children and young people with identified SLCN. Health and education need to work together to design and commission needs-led local services considering universal as well as targeted and specialist approaches. However, there remain challenges in joint planning locally for children and young people with SLCN due to increasing evidence of significant cuts to front line speech and language therapy services68 and to the specialist advisory teaching services.69


The Communication Trust has developed Let’s Talk About It, an information booklet available to all initial teacher trainees, available from www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/resources. The Trust has worked with a group of universities to embed speech and language information into initial teacher training and is currently working on a project with a university and a primary school within a co-operative learning trust, using a targeted intervention programme to embed changes in practice of initial teacher trainees.

Case study

We know that communication is paramount for our children, we know that there is much room for improvement, but we also know what we need and have examples of excellence in practice.

School leadership Time and time again, evidence shows the impact having ‘top level’ support has for any programme running in schools, in particular the backing of the headteacher and senior leadership team.71 The importance of leadership in spearheading language policy across a school is shown in recent Ofsted reports. The reports have identified the role of the headteacher and the establishment of a whole school approach as key principles for success.72

Effective practice in speaking and listening has regularly been highlighted as a key feature of outstanding schools in a number of national reports: ‘A common feature of the most successful schools in the survey was the attention they gave to developing speaking and listening.’73

Workforce development The Expert Panel for the National Curriculum Review acknowledges the need for professional development in order to ensure effective implementation of oracy in the classroom 74 with teachers themselves acknowledging the same for children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).75 Research also points to the need for more training in order for teachers to support language, given the wide range of SLCN issues that they typically face in mainstream schools.76 In addition, there needs to be careful consideration of the professional development of teaching assistants who are four times more likely to support speech and language therapists in delivering interventions than to teachers.77

There are a number of initiatives available to schools that support teaching staff to develop their pupil’s speech, language and communication skills and better identify and support pupils with SLCN;

staff can identify their professional strengths and needs and be signposted to appropriate continued professional development.78

Ensuring high quality language teaching and learning should reduce the numbers of children and young people who require specialist language support. Where individual children fail to respond to systematic and regular exposure to evidence based oral language interactions, additional assessments of individual children may be needed and interventions, if appropriate, embedded within the educational context to meet the child’s needs.80

What’s needed? ‘Schools which ‘turn the dial’ on language and communication are able to turn the dial on a number of key school improvement priorities, from raising attainment to narrowing the gap and improving behaviour’. Jean Gross, Communication Champion, 201170


The Trust’s Speech, Language and Communication Framework (SLCF) is a tool designed for the children’s workforce. Teachers and other practitioners can complete an audit of their knowledge and skills. They’re then given a profile of their strengths and areas they may want to develop, with practical solutions. Many of The Trust’s Consortium members offer short and accredited courses and consultation services to support schools.79

More than 10,000 people have used the SLCF, almost 8,000 of which were universal staff. For more information please go to www.talkingpoint.org.uk/slcf

Case study

Peacehaven Community School is a specialist science, maths and training school for pupils aged 11-16. The senior management team has prioritised speech, language and communication in the School Improvement Plan. They won the Shine A Light award for Secondary School of the Year in 2012.

Case study


Conversations between adults and children that are characterised by high quality language learning interactions should be the core of the classroom.

Language in the curriculumExperts have long argued that language is so fundamental to learning that it deserves a higher profile across the whole curriculum rather than being ‘marooned’ in the English curriculum,81 as the ‘poor relation’ to written language. The Expert Panel for the National Curriculum Review devotes a whole chapter to the issue of ‘Oral Language and its Development within the National Curriculum’ noting the connection between oral development, cognitive development and educational attainment. 82

Speaking and listening can often be seen as less formal and therefore a less important element of children’s learning. However research suggests the opposite, reading difficulties can be compounded if children are taught written language before their spoken language skills are developed enough to access this teaching.83

Classroom environment Effective talk in the classroom has reported positive effects on subject learning, attainment, understanding, students’ control over their own learning, emotional development, confidence and self-esteem.84 Social interaction and class-based activities such as working to achieve joint goals, explaining thinking, discussing different points of view and forging consensus, promote both learning and understanding.85 Conversations between adults and children characterised by high quality language learning interactions should be the core of the classroom. A classroom may have an exemplary physical environment and a deliberate provision of daily language activities; however, without adult-child interactions of sufficiently high quality and sensitivity, these efforts are unlikely to result in the desired child outcomes. A number of studies suggest these language learning interactions occur less frequently than is needed. 86 87

The Better Communication Research Programme (BCRP) have developed a tool to support communication in the classroom.88 Activities to scaffold language development need to be provided in a regular and deliberate manner. These should include the language learning interactions that have been shown to develop oral language, including grammatical skills, vocabulary and narrative. For example, vocabulary instructions integrated into classroom routines89 and building working vocabularies and conceptual development through social interactions.90 All school staff should fully understand, appreciate and develop quality use of a full range of language learning interaction techniques.91

Effective talk needs to be properly planned and designed by teachers, with students supported and facilitated and the teachers modeling how to interact in group discussions.92

93 However the BCRP research has shown changing classroom pedagogy to support speech, language and communication is challenging for teachers.94

There are a range of tools available to support schools to identify strengths and areas for progress. Different approaches to supporting changes in policy and practice are available, through systematic approaches, workforce development and a graduated approach through interventions and support. Many of The Trust’s Consortium members offer ways to audit current practice and to build communication into the whole school environment. For more information about what services and resources members provide for schools please go to www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/consortiumcatalogue

Case study

The Trust’s Talk of the Town programme aims to embed language in the curriculum for all children, through building on current practice. The project was piloted in a school federation in Wythenshawe where whole class strategies have been embedded to support teachers. This included daily activities to promote talk, including ‘talk boxes’ in every primary classroom and the development of communication notice boards for the secondary school. In addition, a range of interventions were used to support those children who were falling behind. For more information please go to www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/talkofthetown

Case study


Early intervention/preventionKnowledge of typical development and the component elements of language is crucial. Recent research concludes that teachers would benefit from more knowledge of children’s speech, language and communication development, as well as training in how to assess and measure these skills in young children appropriately.95 The BCRP has identified a number of factors to consider in supporting early identification. The Communication Trust has also produced a number of resources to support early identification for use in schools96, which have been evidenced as being effective in reducing under-identification.97

Universal, targeted and specialistA graduated response is seen as being important to support children with SLCN; one which encompasses universal quality teaching, catch-up programmes of support for children with delayed language, and more specialist support for those with more severe difficulties. For the best outcomes, this model would sit within a communication friendly environment and with the elements of leadership, workforce and parents embedded throughout. We have examples of models used to implement this approach98 and through BCRP evidence of what interventions are most effective for children with SLCN across all levels of this graduated model.99

The importance of interventionsThere is a growing number of evidenced interventions available to support children’s speech, language and communication. Interventions at all levels are absolutely essential to support children who can catch up to do so and those with longer term difficulties to communicate to the very best of their ability. The BCRP highlights the importance of a personalised approach to teaching and learning, reflecting an understanding of a pupil’s language learning and literacy needs, social and communication difficulties and academic progression.100 101

Wallands County Primary School is a Shine a Light award winner with a dedicated speech and language unit. The unit supports teachers to learn how to identify and support children with SLCN. Reception class children are assessed on entry, which highlights children who need further investigation by a speech and language therapist. Within the school, children with SLCN are prioritised for early intervention and specific programmes of support are given by dedicated specialist teaching assistants.

Case study

The What Works website gives examples of a range of interventions that work across universal, targeted and specialist levels. A systematic framework for embedding these approaches alongside workforce development and strategic leadership, such as used in The Trust’s Talk of the Town programme, is key. For more information please go to www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/whatworks

Case study

Recent research concludes that teachers would benefit from more knowledge of children’s speech, language and communication development, as well as training in how to assess and measure these skills in young children appropriately.


Evidenced interventions are available in the What Works website to support a whole range of SLCN. For example, phonological awareness skills essential for reading, programmes demonstrating significant language

improvement in those children who are delayed and programmes to support language in those children with the most complex needs. For more information please go to www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/whatworks

Case study

ProfilingThe BCRP strongly recommended profiling and monitoring children’s needs, in order to support effective identification and support.102 103 The Trust has tested ways of profiling children’s needs through simple tools and techniques within schools, which have enabled identification of children and the ability to signpost different approaches of support, dependent on the child’s profile.104

Progression tools have been developed to support identification and profiling of children’s language and communication. Used in The Trust’s Talk of the Town programme, alongside Universally Speaking booklets and training for staff, they contributed to identification of children with SLCN and enabled staff to ensure appropriate approaches and monitoring of progress.

Talk of the Town 2012

Levels of under identification pre-Talk of the Town

NurseryD 50% under identifiedPrimaryD 31% under identified

Levels of under identification post-Talk of the Town

NurseryD Fell to 15%PrimaryD Fell to between 5% and 10%

Progression Tools

Specialist support servicesSpeech and language therapists (SLTs) have a crucial role to play in supporting children and young people with SLCN. Collaborative working between education and health is advocated as best practice for children with SLCN.105 106 The recent BCRP recommends SLT support for children with SLCN to be in schools.

Parents The evidence base regarding the role of parents in supporting and developing early language, thinking and emotional skills is well documented.107 108 109

Parents of children with SLCN face additional challenges as often their child’s needs aren’t completely understood by the professionals around them. Parents often reported challenges in knowing where to go for information, both at the point of their first concerns and then throughout their child’s development.

Parents have a crucial role to play in supporting their child with SLCN. They know their child best and understand how they communicate

and their areas of interest, often key to facilitating positive outcomes. Research has also shown that parents play a prominent role in supporting SLTs to deliver interventions to their children110 and can act as advocates for their children in school.

Parents of children with SLCN report wanting key people surrounding their child to become more knowledgeable, tolerant and supportive of their needs.111 Parents valued outcomes related to attainment, though this in itself this was not enough. More importantly they recognised the need for increasing independence and inclusion of their children and the vital role that communication skills play in the achievement of these outcomes.112

Children and young people Children and young people value communication skills in their own right and for the opportunities good communication brings. Children and young people with SLCN reported that what made the biggest difference to them was when people understood the nature of their condition. They wanted teachers to ‘understand pupils and what helps them.’113

More recently, the BCRP gathered extensive views from children with SLCN. They found they were particularly vulnerable to social acceptance and with emotional well-being. Children and young people valued the help they received to support their language needs but felt the targets highlighted for them at school weren’t reflective of their areas of interest.114 In response to a question about what aspects of other people’s behaviour that they would like to see change, interrupting, shouting and teasing were the most frequently mentioned. Children and young people were very clear about the importance of other peoples’ understanding and behaviour towards them and the difference it makes.


One example of such practice is another Shine a Light award winner; Preston Manor School. Their speech and language base teamed up with the English Department to deliver a curriculum project to a target group of Year 7 pupils. Their goal was to create an opportunity to develop a more inclusive approach to delivering the curriculum while promoting effective speaking and listening skills. Pupils were given a lesson exploring what it means to have a voice. They created speech bubbles, which were displayed on the board, for example, one pupil said ‘My voice is my identity and that’s proof of my existence.’

Case study

Watercliffe Meadow School in Sheffield, a Shine a Light award winner, has a strategic vision which emphasises ‘getting things right from the start’. Engaging parents and carers is a high priority with over 75% of new parents attending workshops including guidance about early language development and the importance of developing language skills through play. At the workshop the parents work alongside their child on practical activities to support their learning. Then they take home a piece of learning to do together which feeds into the next session.

Case study

Jack, 17, spent years avoiding situations where he would have to speak to people because his stammer made communication difficult. He suffered from low self-esteem and was bullied as a result of his difficulty with speaking. In 2009, he attended a residential course, which enabled him to learn skills for controlling his stammer and communicating effectively. Jack now mentors other young people who have similar difficulties; he makes a big difference to them as they see him as someone who really understands their experiences and communication needs.

Case study


If we want all our young people to be able to communicate to the best of their ability, there needs to be a continued shift in policy and practice to support the way we are using and developing communication in the classroom. This also includes how we are currently identifying and supporting children who are struggling with these skills.

The Communication Trust works to ensure that every child and young person is enabled to communicate to the very best of their ability. We recognise the centrality of schools in delivering this vision and are committed to working with Government, local areas and schools themselves in order to achieve this.

D National policy

We will work with Government and national agencies to ensure that policy reflects the specific needs of children and young people with SLCN and supports the communication needs of all young people. We work collaboratively with our partners to offer expert, evidenced solutions. Our website contains updates on our latest policy work115 and our newsletter gives updates on the latest developments116.

D Local policy and practice

We will ensure that speech, language and communication and SLCN are issues that those who develop local policy and service frameworks understand and address in their policies and services. Within the changing landscape, we will provide practical tools to support local authorities, health commissioners and others to ensure that children and young people with SLCN receive the best local services possible.

In order to achieve this we’re asking schools to take our Communication Commitment.

We believe that communication skills should be at the heart of schools policy in order that every child can achieve their potential academically, socially, emotionally and in their future career.

Making it happen


We will provide individual schools, federations and academy chains with a user-friendly route to the Communication Commitment, to enable them to develop a whole school approach to communication.

This approach will take schools through a number of steps, assessing their needs in relation to communication and SLCN, helping them to prioritise what they should address to ensure the best possible teaching and learning, and then sign posting them to suitable and effective resources and approaches from the Trust and our Consortium.

This will focus on five areas:

1. School leadership 2. Staff development 3. Communication friendly schools4. Identifying evidence-based

interventions to support children and young people with SLCN

5. Engagement with parents, families and employers

Making these necessary changes in practise will enable schools to make a commitment to address communication and will support them on their journey to create a generation of great communicators. To find out about this resource as soon as it is launched, please email [email protected]

D The Communication Commitment

References


1 Clegg, J. (2004) Language and Behaviour: an exploratory study of pupils in an exclusion unit. Proceedings of the British Psychological Society Developmental Section Annual Conference, Leeds, September.

2 Bryan, K., Freer, J., and Furlong, C. (2007) Language and communication difficulties in juvenile offenders. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, Vol. 42, No. 5, Pages 505-520).

3 Davies, K. et al (2004) An Evaluation of the Literacy Demands of General Offending Behaviour Programmes. Home Office Findings 233.

4 Mercer, N. and Littleton, K. (2007) Dialogue and the Development of Children’s Thinking. London: Routledge.

5 Roulstone, S., Wren, Y., Bakopoulou, I. and Lindsay, G. (2012) Exploring interventions for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs: A study of practice. Better Communication Research Programme, Department for Education.

6 Dockrell, J., Bakopoulou, I., Law J., Spencer, S. and Lindsay, G. (2012) Developing a communication supporting classrooms observation tool. Better Communication Research Programme, Department for Education.

7 Bercow, J. (2008) The Bercow Report: A Review of Services for Children and Young People (0–19) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs, Department for Education.

8 Tickell, C. (2011) The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning. An Independent Report on the Early Years Foundation Stage to Her Majesty’s Government.

9 Nutbrown, C. (2012) Foundations for quality - The independent review of early education and childcare qualifications.

10 Allen, G. (2011) Early intervention: the next steps – An Independent Report to Her Majesty’s Government.

11 Field, F. (2010) The foundation years: preventing poor children becoming poor adults. The report of the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances.

12 The Communication Trust (2012) Goodbye, Hello http://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/27944/helloevaluationreport_-_final.pdf

13 ibid14 Ruben R. J., Redefining the survival of the

fittest: Communication Disorders in the 21st Century, 2000.

15 Ofsted (2012) The report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills: Schools.

16 Locke, E., Ginsborg, J., and Peers, I. (2002)Development and Disadvantage: implications for early years. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 27 (1). P.3 -15.

17 Waldfogel, J. and Washbrook, E. (2010) Low income and early cognitive development in the

U.K. London: Sutton Trust.18 Gregory, S. (2012) Investing in their future: how

do we ensure our children get the good quality early years provision they need if they and the country are to succeed in the future? Ofsted Early Years Annual Lecture.

19 CBI (2012) First Steps: A new approach for our schools CBI. http://www.cbi.org.uk/campaigns/education-campaign-ambition-for-all/new-approach-for-schools-infographic

20 Specific language impairment (SLI) is a developmental disorder where language difficulties are out of line with a child’s other abilities and with no obvious cause or impairment.

21 Goswami, U., and Bryant, P. (2007) Children’s Cognitive Development and Learning (Primary Review Research Survey 2/1a) Cambridge: University of Cambridge Faculty of Education and literacy.

22 Eastman, A. (2011) No excuses: A review of educational exclusion. Centre for Social Justice.

23 Snowling, M. J., Hulme, C., Bailey, A. M., Stothard, S. and Lindsay, G. (2011) Language and Literacy Attainment of Pupils during Early Years and through KS2: Does teacher assessment at five provide a valid measure of children’s current and future educational attainments? Better Communication Research Programme. Department for Education.

24 Gross, J. (2011) The contribution of oral language skills to school improvement and outcomes for children and young people. Office of the Communication Champion.

25 Snowling, M., and Stackhouse, J. (2006) Dyslexia, Speech and Language: A Practitioners Handbook. Dyslexia Series. Chichister: Whurr Publishers Ltd.

26 Hartshorne, M. (2006) Speech, Language and Communication Needs and Literacy Difficulties. I CAN Talk Series, Issue 1.

27 Hirsch (1996) The Effects of Weaknesses in Oral Language on Reading Comprehension Growth. cited in Torgesen, J. (2004) Current issues in assessment and intervention for younger and older students. Paper presented at NASP Workshop.

28 Snow, C. E. (1999) Why the home is so important in learning to read. Paper presented at the George Graham Lecture in Reading, Charlottesville, VA.

29 Feinstein, L., and Duckworth, K. (2006) Development in the early years: Its importance for school performance and adult outcomes (20) London: Centre for Research on the Wider Benefits of Learning.

30 Dockrell, J., Ricketts, J., Palikara, O., Charman, T., and Lindsay, G., (2012) Profiles of need and provision for children with language impairments and autism spectrum disorders in mainstream schools: A prospective study. Better Communication Research Programme.

31 Better Communication Research Programme. 32 ibid33 Howe, C. and Mercer, N. (2007) Children’s

Social Development, Peer Interaction and Classroom Learning. Primary Review Research Survey 2/1b. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Faculty of Education.

34 Durkin, K. (1995) Developmental Social Psychology. Oxford: Blackwell.

35 St Clair, M., Pickles, A., Durkin, K., and Conti-Ramsden, G. (2011) A longitudinal study of behavioral, emotional and social difficulties in individuals with a history of specific language impairment (SLI). Journal of Communication Disorders. 44 (2). p. 186–199.

36 Vallotton, C., and Ayoub, C. (2011) Use your words: The role of language in the development of toddlers’ self-regulation. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 26 (2). p. 169–181.

37 Clegg, J. (2004) Language and behaviour: an explanatory study of pupils in an exclusion unit. British Psychological Society Development Section Annual Conference, Leeds.

38 Arnold, D. H., Kupersmidt, J. B., Voegler-Lee, M. E., and Marshall, N. A. (2012) The association between preschool children’s social functioning and their emergent academic skills. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. 27 (3). p. 376–386.

39 Strand and Lindsay (2012) 40 Meschi, E., Micklewright J., Vignoles, A

and Lindsay, G. (2012) The transitions between categories of special educational needs of pupils with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as they progress through the education system. Better Communication Research Programme.

41 Better Communication Research Programme.42 Klee, T. (2007) Screening 3-year-olds for

language delay using selected parent-report measures: the jury is still out., Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention. 1(2). p. 58-59.

43 Laing, G. J., Law, J., Levin, A., and Logan, S. (2002) Evaluation of a structured test and a parent led method for screening for speech and language problems: Prospective population based study. British Medical Journal. p. 325 (1152).

44 Lee, W. (2013) Talk of the Town evaluation report. The Communication Trust.

45 Dockrell, J., Ricketts, J., Palikara, O., Charman, T., and Lindsay, G. (2012) See endnote 30 for the full reference.

46 Conti-Ramsden, G., Simkin, Z., and Botting, N. (2006) The prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in adolescents with a history of specific language impairment. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 47 (6).

47 Ofsted, (2010) A statement is not enough - The special educational needs and disability review.

48 McLaughlin, M. J., Dyson, A., Nagle, K., Thurlow, M., Rouse, M., Hardman, M., Norwich, B., Burke. P. J., and Perlin, M. (2006) Cross-cultural perspectives on the classification of

children with disabilities: Part II Implementing classification systems in schools. Journal of Special Education. 40 (1). P. 46-58.


50 Bercow, J. (2008) See endnote 7 for the full reference.

51 Ofsted Annual report 2009/201052 Goswami, U., and Bryant, P. (2007) See

endnote 21 for the full reference.53 Mercer, N. and Littleton, K. (2007) See endnote

4 for the full reference.54 Ofsted (2009) English at the Crossroads: An

Evaluation of English in primary and secondary schools 2005/8.

55 Eastman, A. (2011) See endnote 22 for the full reference.

56 https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/teachers%20standards.pdf

57 The Framework for the National Curriculum - A report by the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review (2011) https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-00135-2011

58 Ofsted, (2012) The framework for school inspection http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/framework-for-school-inspection

59 Roulstone, S., and Lindsay, G. (2010) The perspectives of children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs, and their parents. Department for Education

60 YouGov/The Communication Trust survey, June 2007.

61 Ofsted (2009) See endnote 54 for the full reference.

62 The Bullock Report (1975) A language for life. Report of the Committee of Enquiry appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Science under the Chairmanship of Sir Alan Bullock FBA http://www.educationengland.org.uk/documents/bullock/bullock01.html

63 Sage, R. (2005) Communicating with students who have learning and behaviour difficulties: A continuing professional development programme. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. 10 (4) cited in I CAN Talk secondary paper.

64 National Literacy Trust, 201165 Baumwell, Tamis-LeMonda & Bornstein, 1997;

Hoff, 2003; Landry, Miller-Loncar, Smith & Swank, 1997

66 Girolametto & Weitzman, 200267 Ofsted (2012) From training to teaching early

language and literacy: The effectiveness of training to teach language and literacy in primary schools.

68 RCSLT survey 2013.69 Gross, J. (2011) Two Years On: final report of

the Communication Champion for children. Office of the Communication Champion.

70 Gross, J. (2011) See endnote 24 for the full reference.

71 Stackhouse J., and Wright J. A. (2011) Introduction: Children’s Language and Communication Needs: Evaluating Intervention and Service Provision in Schools. Child

Language Teaching and Learning. 27 (2).72 ibid.73 Ofsted (2010) See endnote 70 for the full

reference.74 Department for Education (2011) The

Framework for the National Curriculum. A report by the Expert Panel for the National Curriculum review. London: Department for Education.

75 Ayre, A., and Roulstone, S. (2009) Transition to secondary school: supporting pupils with speech, language and communication needs. Report to The Communication Trust.

76 Stackhouse J., Wright J. A. (2011) See endnote 71 for the full reference.

78 Lindsay, G., Wren, Y., Bakapoulou, I., Goodlad, S., and Roulstone, S. (2012) Interventions for Children with Speech, Language And Communication Needs (SLCN) in England: A Survey Of Speech And Language Therapists. Better Communication Research Programme: 2nd interim report. Department for Education.

79 The Communication Trust’s Consortium Catalogue, www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/consortiumcatalogue.

80 Dockrell, J. E., Bakopoulou, I., Law, J., Spencer, S., and Lindsay, G. (2012) Developing a communication supporting classrooms observation tool. London: Department for Education.

81 This view has been proposed historically by many, from The Bullock Report (1975) through to the most recent National Curriculum Expert Group.

82 Department for Education (2011) See endnote 74 for the full reference.

83 Locke, E., Ginsborg, J., and Peers, I. (2002) Development and Disadvantage: implications for early years. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 27 (1). P.3 -15.

84 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (2008) Curriculum Evidence Probe 2 Report Dialogue and Curriculum Development.

85 Howe, C. and Mercer, N. (2007) See endnote 33 for the full reference.

86 (Girolametto, Hoaken, Weitzman, & van Leishout, 2000)

87 Dockrell, J. E., Bakopoulou, I., Law, J., Spencer, S., and Lindsay, G. (2012) See endnote 80 for the full reference.


89 Xue, Y., and Meisels, S. J. (2004) Early literacy instruction and learning in kindergarten. American Educational Research Journal. 41 (1). p. 191-229.

90 Winters, R. (2004) Vocabulary anchors: Building conceptual connections with young readers. Reading instruction: Putting the National Reading Pane Report into Practice. 130.


92 Howe, C. and Mercer, N. (2007) See endnote 33 for the full reference.

93 Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (2008) See endnote 84 for the full reference.

94 Better Communication Research Programme.95 Hutchinson J., and Clegg J. (2011) Education

practitioner-led intervention to facilitate language learning in young children: An effectiveness study. Child Language Teaching and Learning. 27 (2). p. 151 – 164.

96 Lee. W, (2011) Universally Speaking series. The Communication Trust

97 Lee, W. (2013) Talk of the Town evaluation report. The Communication Trust

98 Lee, W. (2013) Talk of the Town evaluation report. The Communication Trust

99 www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/whatworks


101 www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk 102 McLaughlin, M.J., Dyson, A., Nagle, K.,

Thurlow, M., Rouse, M., Hardman, M., Norwich, B., Burke. P.J., and Perlin, M. (2006) Cross-cultural perspectives on the classification of children with disabilities: Part II Implementing classification systems in schools. Journal of Special Education. 40 (1), p. 46-58.

103 Dockrell, J., Ricketts, J., Palikara, O., Charman, T., and Lindsay, G., (2012) See endnote 30 for the full reference.

104 Lee, W. (2012) Speech, language and communication progression tools. The Communication Trust

105 Gascoigne, M. (2006) Supporting Children with Speech, Language and Communication needs within integrated children’s services. RCSLT Position Paper. London: RCSLT.

106 Stackhouse J., Wright J. A. (2011) See endnote 71 for the full reference.

107 Hart, B., and Risley, T. (2003) The early catastrophe: The 30 million word gap by 3. American Educator. 27 (1). p. 4-9.

108 Blanden, J. (2006) ‘Bucking the trend’: what enables those who are disadvantaged in childhood to succeed later in life? Department for Work and Pensions.

109 OECD (2011) What can parents do to help their children succeed in school? PISA IN FOCUS OECD.

110 Lindsay, G., Wren, Y., Bakapoulou, I., Goodlad, S., and Roulstone, S. (2012) See endnote 78 for the full reference.

111 Roulstone, S., Coad, J., Hambly, H., and Ayre, A., (2010) Preferred outcomes. Better Communication Research Group: 1st Interim Report. Department for Education.

112 Roulstone, S., and Lindsay, G. (2010) see endnote 59 for full reference.

113 Lee, W. (2009) What do children and young people think about speech, language and communication skills? The Communication Trust.

114 Roulstone, S., and Lindsay, G. (2010) See endnote 59 for the full reference.

115 Visit The Communication Trust Policy Pages at www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/policy

116 Sign up to The Communication Trust newsletter at our website www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk


Recent research concludes that teachers would benefit from more knowledge of children’s speech, language and communication development, as well as training in how to assess and measure these skills in young children appropriately.

The Communication Trust is a coalition of nearly 50 voluntary and community organisations with expertise in speech, language and communication. We harness our collective expertise to support the children’s workforce and commissioners to support all children and young people’s communication skills, particularly those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). We do this by raising awareness, providing information and workforce development opportunities, influencing policy, promoting best practice among the children’s workforce and commissioning work from our members. The Trust was founded in 2007 by children’s charities Afasic and I CAN together with BT and the Council for Disabled Children. www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk This paper was written by Wendy Lee, Professional Director at The Communication TrustPublished January 2013

Design and photography: deborahripley.com

The Communication Trust8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE020 7843 2526www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk

Documents

A Generation Adrift · children’s language (building on children’s language from their starting point). They weave talking and listening opportunities into the fabric of their