CYP Now - Spending Review: Government urged to increase funding for speech and language therapy

A cross-party group of MPs and peers are calling on the government to increase funding for speech and language therapy after research showed access to services had been impacted even further by the pandemic.

Research found that almost two thirds of children who needed it had no speech and language therapy during the first lockdown. Picture: Adobe Stock

An open letter to the Prime Minister and Chancellor from 20 all-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) said more investment in speech and language therapy would improve the lives of millions of babies, children, young people and their families.

Urging the government to use this week’s budget, set to be announced on 27 October, to deliver more funding for services, the group said increased spending would reduce the risk of more public money being spent at a later date because people’s needs had not been identified and supported early enough.

The letter comes after a coalition of more than 80 organisations wrote to Boris Johnson in March calling for improved access to speech and language therapy.

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