One in five school-aged children are struggling with challenges linked to speech and language development – an increase of more than a quarter on figures reported by teachers pre-pandemic, new research finds.
Loneliness, poor mental health and low academic attainment in core subjects like reading, writing and maths are more evident among children who struggle with communication issues, education experts warn.
“A lack of investment and prioritisation, and a difficult pandemic has created an alarming number of children struggling with talking and understanding words,” says Jane Harris, chief executive of charity Speech and Language UK.
Some 74 per cent of teachers say they believe children will struggle more with their talking or understanding of words compared with those who started secondary school before the pandemic, according to the research, based on a survey of 1,000 teachers and published by Speech and Language UK.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
