Remind me - what is the Bercow Review looking at?
Speech, language and communication needs. It's the first major review in this area for seven years, chaired by Conservative MP John Bercow. Launched in September 2007, the review team organised online and focus group consultations, as well as a series of visits. Bercow has published an interim report and plans to issue final recommendations in July 2008.
Is it about communication difficulties then? Yes, framed by a declaration asserting that communication is a "fundamental human right". The review has addressed the topic under five themes: the importance of communication itself; early identification and intervention; the service continuum; joint working; and the lack of equity in the current system. The interim report outlines the review's thinking in three chapters: families' views of services, joint commissioning of services and workforce, leadership and accountability. Each chapter ends with a list of potential actions.
What are communication needs?
That depends on the definition used - the review rightly stresses that they vary. Some relate primarily to a child's social environment and some to a specific disability. That's why early intervention is so important since failure to provide the necessary support can lead to problems getting more entrenched and having a negative impact on health, educational achievement and employment opportunities.
And the results of the consultation?
A mixture of some positive accounts offset by a larger amount of disheartening experiences. For example, in the chapter on families' views of services, the issues raised indicate serious problems accessing help once a need has been identified, with parents often having to fight for an initial assessment. The lack of clarity over whether health or education should be involved was described as incomprehensible and ridiculous. Even ensuring a child had a statement of special educational needs did not always lead to the provision of necessary support.
FACT BOX
- Only 15 per cent of young people with communication needs achieve five GCSEs at A* to C or equivalent, compared with 57 per cent of all young people
- In 2006, there were 3,023 full-time equivalent speech and language therapy posts working with children and young people in the NHS
- Download The Interim Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with Speech, Language and Communication Needs from www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.
