Best Practice

SLCN: Seven common signs and some in-school interventions

With 1 in 5 children thought to be behind with their talking and/or understanding of words, spotting the signs of speech, language and communication needs has never been more vital. Speech and language therapist Hannah Cook advises
Image: Adobe Stock

It is estimated that 10% of children will be affected by long-term and persistent speech, language, and communication needs (Public Health England, 2020), and that around 4 in 10 of those will go through our school system unidentified (Communication Trust, 2014).

The Listening to unheard children report (Speech and Language UK, 2023), meanwhile, estimates that 1.9 million children (1 in 5) are behind with their talking and/or understanding of words.

It is highly likely that you too have experienced children struggling to learn, form friendships, express themselves, process information, and engage fully in educational and social settings.

Identifying SLCN early is essential for providing the appropriate support, but it can be particularly challenging in a busy classroom environment.

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