London mayor pledges £4m to improve speech and language support
Joe Lepper
Thursday, May 18, 2023
The mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s violence reduction unit (VRU) is to plough £4m into improving support for children with special educational needs (SEN), who are at a greater risk of crime than their peers.
The funding will focus on early identification of SEN in children and delivering support programmes, such as help to improve speech and communication skills in primary schools.
Khan cites evidence that in 2021 children with SEN were four times more likely to be excluded from school.
Last year more than two thirds of children in England and Wales, who had been cautioned or sentenced for a serious violent offence, had a special educational need.
This investment “will seek to close the gaps in learning for children with speech and language needs and who are in the first three years of primary school”, said Khan’s office.
The initiative will launch during the next academic year with a focus on offering teachers training to help children “to reason, argue and explain”.
“I’m committed to doing everything I can so that all children and young Londoners benefit from the opportunities that education can provide. This is crucial to building a fairer, more equal city for everyone.
“That means making education accessible and available to all and intervening early to provide support to allow a young person to develop and thrive," said Khan.
He said that the investment is part of the VRU's mission to back programmes "that are focused on working in partnership with schools and local authorities to give every young person the support they need to receive an education and fulfil their potential".
The VRU’s director Lib Peck added: “We all have a role to play in making education inclusive for all and a fundamental part of that is giving hardworking teachers the support and training to identify gaps and to do what they do best – provide a platform for children to develop and thrive.
"That’s why we’re investing in a package of measures using early intervention to better develop speech and language skills. In promoting inclusive practices and healthy relationships we are supporting schools in providing accessible education for all young Londoners."
Initiatives in primary schools the VRU is already involved in include its inclusive and nurturing schools programme to tackle exclusions by promoting healthy behaviour and relationships.
