1.3
Review and report on relevant research about the incidence of speech, language and communication needs and behavioural, social and emotional difficulties in children and young people
Speech, language and communication are crucial to every child’s ability to access and get the most out of education and life. Children can have a range of different speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). They can be primary, such as specific language impairments or a stammer, or secondary and related to another need like autistic spectrum disorders, hearing impairments or physical disabilities. The ability to communicate is an essential life skill for all children and young people and it underpins a child’s social, emotional and educational development. Children and young people who have SLCN commonly have difficulties with reading and writing and accessing the curriculum. They also often have poor behaviour and may find it hard to socialise with their peers. The transition from compulsory education for children and young people with SLCN and the longer-term implications in adulthood are not well understood. However, it is clear that all children and young people with SLCN are potentially “at risk”.
Children and young people who struggle to communicate will often also struggle to engage in and enjoy education. Almost all aspects of school life are language based. In his report on the teaching of early reading, Sir Jim Rose made a clear connection between strong speaking and listening skills and children’s ability to learn to read. Educational achievement statistics show a significant gap between the achievement of children and young people with SLCN and their peers.
Previous research has suggested that children/young people with SLCN are at greater risk of developing behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) than typically developing children and young people. Overall, the main areas of difficulty are the development of successful peer