Bercow urges speech needs must be 'core' to children's workforce

The government-ordered study, headed by Conservative MP John Bercow, was set up to identify reforms to improve children's speech and language services in England.

The review's conclusions, published yesterday (8 July), said support for children with speech and language needs (SLN) should become an integral part of professionals' work.

"The theme running throughout the report is about trying to embed improvements within wider frameworks," Bercow told CYP Now.

"The Children's Workforce Development Council must ensure speech and language development is a core part of qualifications in the children's workforce."

He said ministers should make SLN training a core requirement of the planned MSc in teaching.

Bercow also said children's trusts need to make a senior representative responsible for SLN. "There's not much evidence that trusts are embedded yet, but if they are to lead on commissioning, they need someone specifically responsible for SLN," he said.

Anita Kerwin-Nye, director of The Communications Trust, said the call for more training should have gone further. She said he should have proposed "the integration of speech, language and communication into the integrated qualifications framework".

The review also called for a national indicator for speech and language development, pathfinder projects to identify how best to support children with SLN and the appointment of a children's champion to drive forward the changes.

Bercow said: "It is in the government's interests to spend now to save later."

Virginia Beardshaw, chief executive of communications charity I Can, said: "John Bercow has thrown down the gauntlet to government to implement his recommendations."

The government's response was due as CYP Now went to press.

- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.