Speech problems 'need attention'

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 23rd Mar 2008

A postcode lottery of treatment for youngsters with speech and language difficulties must end, says a report.

If children with poor communication skills are not helped they face social exclusion, says the independent review.

The findings stem from a review of services in England by Conservative MP John Bercow on the government's behalf. Schools Secretary Ed Balls says he wants to improve facilities for young people across the board, from detection to support and treatment.

Mr Bercow said many children in England with communication difficulties were not being helped early enough.

Releasing his interim report at Wyvil School in south London, Mr Bercow said: "Although there are some skilled professionals and very good facilities, the overall position is highly unsatisfactory. Access to information and services is often poor, services themselves are very mixed, continuity across the age range is lacking, effective joint working between the health and education services is rare and there is something of a postcode lottery across the country. Above all, local commissioners attach a low priority to the subject and this must change."

More than 89,000 school-aged children have speech and language difficulties as their main special educational need, with more having lesser difficulties or remaining undiagnosed. Their needs range from mild stammering to serious communication difficulties.

Some families feel their children are not a priority for local services and they have to struggle to obtain help, the report says. Information can be hard to find and services hard to access. Many feel agencies do not work together effectively or share a common language. Others found it difficult to maintain continuous support, especially as some professionals are stretched for time and resources - while others don't have the training to step in.

The interim report highlights identified five key themes:

Speech, language and communication are essential life skills and a fundamental human right - they should be a priority for all in the system.

Early identification of problems and intervention are essential to avoiding social and economic problems later in life

Services should be a continuous process from an early age - not just the odd sessions or for very young children - and designed with the needs of the family in mind, making them easy to access

Joint working between services and with families is critical. Local authorities, primary care trusts and other services need to cooperate more

The current system is patchy - there is in effect a "postcode lottery". The review - the first for seven years - was commissioned by Schools Secretary Ed Balls and Health Secretary Alan Johnson.

Mr Balls said: "It is vital that children and young people with speech and language difficulties are identified at the earliest possible stage and the right support is then put in place. "If these problems aren't identified and treated early on it can have a fundamental impact on children and young people throughout their lives. I want children's services to work together with primary care trusts to provide speech and language services that meet the needs of children and families."

John Bercow's review was launched in September 2007 and the final report, with recommendations to government, will be published in July 2008.