The Reading Journey

A lifelong love of reading is important for so many areas of well being, yet many people lack literacy skills, contributing to some of the biggest societal problems. Sue Wilkinson shows how The Reading Agency is bridging the gap for vulnerable children and adults so they develop the skills to access the power, importance, life-changing and life-enhancing impact of reading.

Reading. For some of us, it is the door opener to new worlds and new ideas, the source of hours of pleasure, entertainment and enjoyment, and a skill we use every day to access information, make decisions, manage our lives, health, money and relationships. When you see reading like this it becomes hard to imagine what life is like if you don’t have this skill, if you struggle with reading, and if being asked to read for ten minutes every day to and with your child fills you with dread.

Create an account to read this article

£7.00+ VAT

One-off purchase

Purchase and Download today

Register for free

No Credit Card required

Register for free
Access to 3 free articles
Free TeachingTimes Report every month

array(8) {
  ["distinct_key"]=>
  string(10) "post#39378"
  ["title"]=>
  string(21) "YoungMinds in Schools"
  ["categories"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(13) "Special Needs"
  }
  ["url"]=>
  string(50) "https://www.teachingtimes.com/youngmindsinschools/"
  ["post_date_timestamp"]=>
  int(1324643648)
  ["objectID"]=>
  string(12) "post-39378-0"
  ["_snippetResult"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(159) "There are huge changes and challenges ahead for schools. In this article Roger Catchpole from YoungMinds in Schools explains how the YMiS programme might help."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(457) "... ofprofessionals, parents, children andyoung people in the development oftraining and a comprehensive suiteof  resources to support learning.YMiS supports staff  to work with therelationships between emotional andcognitive development and betweenemotional wellbeing, literacy andlearning.The ProgrammeLed by YoungMinds, the childrenand young people’s mental healthcharity, YMiS will work initiallywith four pilot ..."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
    }
  }
  ["_highlightResult"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["title"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(21) "YoungMinds in Schools"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(159) "There are huge changes and challenges ahead for schools. In this article Roger Catchpole from YoungMinds in Schools explains how the YMiS programme might help."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(4) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(5717) "This month’s FeaturesThere are huge changes and challenges ahead for schools. In this article Roger Catchpole from YoungMindsin Schools explains how the YMiS programme might help.YoungMinds inSchoolsYoungMinds in Schools (YMiS)aims to improve outcomesfor children and young peoplewith behavioural, emotionalor social difficulties (BESD)by enabling school staff  tobecome more confident andcompetent in working withthem and by supporting wholeschool approaches to emotionalwellbeing.With funding from the Departmentfor Education through its SpecialEducational Needs and Disability(SEND) work, the programme seeksto bring together the perspectives ofprofessionals, parents, children andyoung people in the development oftraining and a comprehensive suiteof  resources to support learning.YMiS supports staff  to work with therelationships between emotional andcognitive development and betweenemotional wellbeing, literacy andlearning.The ProgrammeLed by YoungMinds, the childrenand young people’s mental healthcharity, YMiS will work initiallywith four pilot clusters of  schools,offering training in areas such as;attachment, neuroscience andlearning, perspectives on behaviourand therapeutic story writing.We will offer consultancy to thesenior leadership teams, supportthem to establish local steeringgroups and engage more fully withspecialist services such as CAMHSand Educational Psychology in theirarea, facilitating the establishment ofsustainable models of  practice thatcan then be shared across the sector.Our national steering groupchaired by Neil Humphrey, Professorof  Psychology of  Education atManchester University and expertsfrom across the field of  SEN andeducation, will help us ensure that thesupport we offer is evidence informedand relevant to the real issues faced inschools.The whole schoolOur experience of  working withschools, and their partners in health,social care and the voluntary andcommunity sector, strongly suggeststhat whole school approaches aremost effective in creating sustainablechange.  A whole school approachto emotional wellbeing involvespupils, parents and professionals in http://www.teachingtimes.comThis month’s FeaturesA new websiteto supportemotionalwellbeing inschoolAlongside thedirect work withpilot clusters ofschools YMiS ismaking available asuite of  resourcesto support schoolsin developing thisapproach throughtheir website launched on 8thNovember:www.youngmindsinschools.org.ukThese resources are freely availableto anyone with an interest in the workand will be added to and developedthrough the experience gained inworking with the pilot clusters.  Wewant the website to become the‘first port of  call’ for anyone lookingfor information on how to improveoutcomes for children and are keento receive feedback on the resourcesalready there.We know that to achieve our aimswe must engage as widely as possiblewith all those in the education sectorto share good practice, identifyneeds and create a live, growing andvaluable resource for schools, parentsand pupils.  There is lots of  goodpractice in schools and we want to usethe website to showcase some ofthat through case studies andarticles and to encourage othersto consider how they might usethese examples to drive changein their school.  We see thecurrent content as the start ofbuilding the suite of  resources,not an end point, and are keento consider submissions, ideasand comments about how itcan be made most useful to thewhole school community.The structure of  the website allowsusers to find information on SEN orwellbeing or to search for resourcesby theme.  The SEN section includesmaterials such as:assessment tools for BESD together ■with brief  descriptions of  how touse themsections on managing stressaddressing mental health issues insecondary schoolexploring and using differentperspectives on behaviour tosupport classroom and wholeschool practiceThe wellbeing sections exploreways to promote the wellbeing ofpupils, parents and professionals andrecognise the ways in which theseare connected to each other.  Thereis an overview of  risk and resiliencewith links to strong research evidence■■■jointly creating an ethos where therelationship between learning andemotional wellbeing is understood andreflected in the day to day practice ofthe school.The programme will supportschool staff  to respond appropriatelyand confidently to children and youngpeople with BESD, enabling them toengage more positively with school,and it will develop shared approachesand partnerships between schoolstaff  and parents that address theemotional and behavioural needs ofall children and young people.http://www.teachingtimes.comhttp://www.youngmindsinschools.org.ukThis month’s Featuresfrom the UK and around the world toillustrate how a resilience-based modelcan contribute to improving outcomes.The resources section is arrangedby theme so that users of  the websitecan easily find the resources theyneed.  Examples of  themes include:bullyingclassroom practicecognitive developmentbehaviourfamilieshappiness and wellbeingtransitionsWithin each theme is an overview ofthe topic, practical suggestions forschools or individual practitioners,links to relevant research,recommended reading, suggestedclassroom books and links to videosand audio files to support learning byprofessionals and/or to use in workwith pupils.As work with the pilot clustersprogresses and we get feedback fromusers of  the website we will add to theresources available.  YMiS is keen to■■■■■■■hear from users of  the website if  theyidentify gaps or have contributions"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
      ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
      bool(false)
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(6) {
        [0]=>
        string(9) "emotional"
        [1]=>
        string(9) "wellbeing"
        [2]=>
        string(8) "literacy"
        [3]=>
        string(6) "mental"
        [4]=>
        string(6) "health"
        [5]=>
        string(7) "reading"
      }
    }
    ["categories"]=>
    array(1) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(13) "Special Needs"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Special Needs

YoungMinds in Schools

23 Dec 2011

array(8) {
  ["distinct_key"]=>
  string(10) "post#42362"
  ["title"]=>
  string(21) "SLT 6.5 Report Update"
  ["categories"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "Leadership"
  }
  ["url"]=>
  string(52) "https://www.teachingtimes.com/slt-6-5-report-update/"
  ["post_date_timestamp"]=>
  int(1431353251)
  ["objectID"]=>
  string(12) "post-42362-2"
  ["_snippetResult"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(364) "What works in promoting social and emotional wellbeing and
responding to mental health in schools?; Shaping the future of CPD; The power of reading: How the next government can unlock every child’s
potential through reading; Young adults and politics today: Disengaged and disaffected or engaged and enraged?"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(386) "... minister to coordinate Whitehall strategyand delivery on early years services across health, education and local government.■ A new strategy for improving the teaching of reading comprehension, especially forolder primary school children.■ Working with schools to develop a new generation of school leaders for literacy,focusing on primary schools ..."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
    }
  }
  ["_highlightResult"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["title"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(21) "SLT 6.5 Report Update"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(4) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(364) "What works in promoting social and emotional wellbeing and
responding to mental health in schools?; Shaping the future of CPD; The power of reading: How the next government can unlock every child’s
potential through reading; Young adults and politics today: Disengaged and disaffected or engaged and enraged?"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
      ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
      bool(false)
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(5) {
        [0]=>
        string(9) "emotional"
        [1]=>
        string(9) "wellbeing"
        [2]=>
        string(6) "mental"
        [3]=>
        string(6) "health"
        [4]=>
        string(7) "reading"
      }
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(4) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(5714) "contributing factor towards the persistenteducational divide in England, which sees thousands of children from low-incomefamilies significantly underperform at school each year.Furthermore, among poorer children, those who were the best readers at age ten go onto earn 20 per cent more per hour on average at age 40 than those with the weakestreading skills. This could be equivalent to an extra day’s wages each week. A 20 percent increase in hourly pay for those on the lowest incomes would make the differencebetween earning the minimum wage and the living wage.The solutionThe report calls on politicians to ensure that by 2020, all nurseries, especially thoseserving disadvantaged children, have at least one graduate trained in the early years.It estimates that this would require 11,000 more graduates. At the moment, just 13 percent of staff in independent nurseries have a relevant degree.The report suggests offering nurseries that employ an early-years teacher an increasedearly-years Pupil Premium of £1,300 for three- and four-year-olds.The powerof reading:How the nextgovernmentcan unlockevery child’spotentialthroughreadingFor schools:■ Ensure that there is clarity on the purpose of lesson observations, so formativedevelopment remains distinct from the accountability framework.■ Form a knowledge-creating school through peer reflection groups, lesson studyand research processes, combined with activities to inform these with specialistexpertise.■ Embed professional learning as an on-going process within the school timetable.■ Enable sharing of practice in a non-judgemental culture, which also acknowledgesthe importance of informed risk-taking.■ Develop and exploit the opportunities of technology as a collaborative tool withinagreed protocols to help ensure teacher control and authorisation.http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdfhttp://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/The_Power_of_Reading.pdf18Vol 6.5School Leadership Todaywww.teachingtimes.comReportsLeadershipBriefingKey policy priorities for the next government:■ Early education in every nursery in England to be led by an early years graduate by2020, with government support initially focused on nurseries serving children fromdisadvantaged backgrounds.■ Every nursery in England to have at least one non-graduate member of staff withan intermediate level qualification in young children’s speech, language andcommunication.■ The creation of a cross-departmental early years minister to coordinate Whitehall strategyand delivery on early years services across health, education and local government.■ A new strategy for improving the teaching of reading comprehension, especially forolder primary school children.■ Working with schools to develop a new generation of school leaders for literacy,focusing on primary schools serving disadvantaged children.■ Focusing school accountability on children from disadvantaged backgrounds whoare falling behind, by exploring reforms to the pupil premium.Eighty per cent of young adults say they have little or no trust in politicians – butthis doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in politics, says new research from theUCL Institute of Education (IOE).This report shows that young adults with lower levels of education are substantiallyless likely to vote and to be politically engaged than those with university degreesor A-levels. By age 23, less than a third (31 per cent) of those who left school at 16definitely plan to vote in future, compared with nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) ofyoung people with degrees.This 12-year study has followed the first cohort to have had statutory citizenshipeducation in schools, starting at age 11.The study shows that all young people get more interested in politics from their mid-teens onwards. By the time they are in their mid-20s, almost 50 per cent surveyed saythat ‘it is every adult’s duty to vote in elections’. The data showed that students whoreported receiving a lot of citizenship education at school were more likely to holdpositive attitudes to civic and social participation. In addition, they were more likely tofeel that they could effect change in their communities and in politics generally.This underlines the importance of strengthening citizenship education throughoutschooling, and the need to ensure it is continued in post-16 education and training, saythe researchers.Key findings:■ Eighty per cent of young adults report very low levels of trust in politicians, butthis does not mean that they are not interested in politics nor that they think thatvoting is unimportant.■ Voting remains the most frequently reported political activity, and there is potentialto increase turnout in the 2015 general election – 50 per cent of young adultsreported that they are ‘very likely’ to vote in May and a further 25 per cent said thatthey are ‘fairly likely’ to do so.■ When asked ‘what is"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
      ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
      bool(false)
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(3) {
        [0]=>
        string(8) "literacy"
        [1]=>
        string(6) "health"
        [2]=>
        string(7) "reading"
      }
    }
    ["categories"]=>
    array(1) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(10) "Leadership"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Leadership

SLT 6.5 Report Update

11 May 2015

array(8) {
  ["distinct_key"]=>
  string(10) "post#40235"
  ["title"]=>
  string(35) "Communication and the Policy agenda"
  ["categories"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(6) "Policy"
    [1]=>
    string(13) "Special Needs"
  }
  ["url"]=>
  string(62) "https://www.teachingtimes.com/communicationandthepolicyagenda/"
  ["post_date_timestamp"]=>
  int(1356092795)
  ["objectID"]=>
  string(12) "post-40235-0"
  ["_snippetResult"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(188) "Over a million children have speech, language
and communication needs and the impact on their
development is startling. Clare Geldard analyses
an issue that is racing up the policy agenda."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(434) "... literacy, numeracy and learning; difficulties with social relationships andbehaviour; and – in the worst case – offending. In adolescents and young adults, thesedifficulties are strongly associated with mental health problems. People with speech andlanguage difficulties are significantly over-represented in the young offender and prisonpopulations. SLCN represent a significant risk factor for ..."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
    }
  }
  ["_highlightResult"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["title"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(35) "Communication and the Policy agenda"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(188) "Over a million children have speech, language
and communication needs and the impact on their
development is startling. Clare Geldard analyses
an issue that is racing up the policy agenda."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(4) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(5659) "Vol 3.3 n www.teachingtimes.comPolicy: conditionsEvery Child Journal40Over a million children have speech, languageand communication needs and the impact on theirdevelopment is startling. Clare Geldard analysesan issue that is racing up the policy agenda.Communicationand the PolicyagendaSpeech, language and communicationunderpin all areas of a child’s developmentfrom birth. In the classroom, spokenlanguage is the primary medium throughwhich teachers teach and children learn. Childrenneed their language and communication skills tointeract with their peers, to make and maintainfriendships and develop their thoughts and ideas.Competence in language is closely associated withliteracy development, academic performance,behaviour at school and emotional wellbeing.Image suppliedby ICANwww.teachingtimes.com n Vol 3.3Policy: conditions Every Child Journal41Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) affect over a million children in theUK today. A very significant proportion of language difficulties can be long-term andpersistent – in other words children and young people won’t ‘grow out of it’.1 In someareas, particularly areas of social deprivation, an additional 50 per cent of children arestarting school with poor language which affects their ability to access their education,make friends and achieve their potential. But with targeted and timely support, thesechildren have the potential to catch up to their peers.2Unaddressed, speech and language difficulties carry with them high risk ofproblems with literacy, numeracy and learning; difficulties with social relationships andbehaviour; and – in the worst case – offending. In adolescents and young adults, thesedifficulties are strongly associated with mental health problems. People with speech andlanguage difficulties are significantly over-represented in the young offender and prisonpopulations. SLCN represent a significant risk factor for social exclusion.Without support at the earliest opportunity when difficulties arise, SLCN can go onto become more significant. Evidence shows that children who have a few months’ gapin their oral language skills at age 5 from their expected age level will have a five yeardifference in their reading age by the age of 14.3 Likewise, only a quarter of children withSLCN reach the expected levels for their age in English and Maths at age 11. In 2010, only11 per cent of pupils with SLCN achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-C including Englishand mathematics.4 We know that SLCN is an issue in schools across the UK; in 2011, 24.2per cent of primary aged pupils with a statement of special educational needs (SEN) werestatemented because of their SLCN, making SLCN the most prevalent identified form ofSEN in primary schools.Review of servicesIn September 2007, the Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families and Healthasked John Bercow MP to lead an independent review of services for children and youngpeople with SLCN. The Review, supported by an advisory group which included thechildren’s communication charity I CAN , undertook extensive evidence gathering. TheBercow Review in July 2008 found inconsistent provision to support children with SLCN.While there were pockets of good practice, the Review found the system to supportchildren with SLCN to be characterised by high variability and a lack of equity, particularlyin the context of their access to speech and language therapy (SLT). It also found serviceswere not ‘joined up’ in the ways they supported children’s SLCN, particularly health andeducation. In December 2008, the Government launched the Better CommunicationAction Plan which outlined how it would improve services for children and young peoplewith SLCN. Now known as the Better Communication Research Programme , BCRP is dueto be reporting in the coming weeks.Another recommendation from the Review was a national year of communication (in2011) which also saw the appointment of a ‘communication champion’, Jean Gross, whoreported at the end of her two years in this role. The report, Two Years On, acknowledgedthe progress that had been made as a result of the national year of communication5. Grosssaw an increased awareness of the centrality of good communication skills to children’slearning, wellbeing and life chances, and identified some measurable improvements inchildren’s speech, language and communication skills.Over the last four years, Government policy has seen some promising moves forchildren’s communication: the need for teachers to be proficient in teaching ‘articulacy’6and a requirement that teachers support children’s communication, as well as literacyand numeracy, in the revised Ofsted evaluation framework. However, with a move awayfrom guidance on pedagogy, there remains much to be done to ensure that the reviewednational curriculum and revised SEN code of practice7 have an appropriate focus onchildren’s speech, language and communication.“Unaddressed,speech andlanguage difficultiescarry with themhigh risk ofproblems withliteracy, numeracyand learning;difficulties withsocial relationshipsand behaviour; and– in the worst case– offending.”http://www.ican.org.ukhttps://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationdetail/page1/DCSF-00632-2008https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/standard/publicationdetail/page1/DCSF-00632-2008http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_091972http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_091972"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
      ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
      bool(false)
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(6) {
        [0]=>
        string(9) "emotional"
        [1]=>
        string(9) "wellbeing"
        [2]=>
        string(8) "literacy"
        [3]=>
        string(6) "mental"
        [4]=>
        string(6) "health"
        [5]=>
        string(7) "reading"
      }
    }
    ["categories"]=>
    array(2) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(6) "Policy"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [1]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(13) "Special Needs"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Policy

Communication and the Policy agenda

21 Dec 2012

array(8) {
  ["distinct_key"]=>
  string(10) "post#44346"
  ["title"]=>
  string(22) "Communicating for Life"
  ["categories"]=>
  array(5) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "Conditions"
    [1]=>
    string(6) "Family"
    [2]=>
    string(13) "Mental Health"
    [3]=>
    string(13) "Special Needs"
    [4]=>
    string(9) "Wellbeing"
  }
  ["url"]=>
  string(51) "https://www.teachingtimes.com/communicatingforlife/"
  ["post_date_timestamp"]=>
  int(1536575548)
  ["objectID"]=>
  string(12) "post-44346-2"
  ["_snippetResult"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(331) "Students who have speech, language and communication needs are not receiving the support they need to achieve their potential. Caroline Wright discusses the results of a new report that shows a decline in educational practices that support verbal communication skills development and highlights what can be done to improve this ..."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(2) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(368) "... not necessarily guarantee positive change and could become a tick box exercise. Instead, speech, language and communication should be embedded in other policies, such as literacy, behaviour and wellbeing policies. In the report we specifically recommend that school leaders should ensure that the importance of spoken language is reflected in ..."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
    }
  }
  ["_highlightResult"]=>
  array(6) {
    ["title"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(22) "Communicating for Life"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["author"]=>
    array(1) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(15) "Caroline Wright"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
    ["excerpt"]=>
    array(3) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(370) "Students who have speech, language and communication needs are not receiving the support they need to achieve their potential. Caroline Wright discusses the results of a new report that shows a decline in educational practices that support verbal communication skills development and highlights what can be done to improve this crucial area for many vulnerable students."
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(4) "none"
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(0) {
      }
    }
    ["content"]=>
    array(4) {
      ["value"]=>
      string(5003) "language after the reception year, the most effective schools made use of the available tools, such as the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT), to track pupils’ progress in spoken language.9. Listening to children and young people: In line with the ethos of the Children and Families Act (2014), schools should involve children and young people with SLCN in discussions about their support. There are resources which schools can use to support consultation with children and young people with SLCN on the Bercow: Ten Years On website.10. Embedded in policy: School leaders advised us that having a whole school speech, language and communication policy did not necessarily guarantee positive change and could become a tick box exercise. Instead, speech, language and communication should be embedded in other policies, such as literacy, behaviour and wellbeing policies. In the report we specifically recommend that school leaders should ensure that the importance of spoken language is reflected in their school’s special educational needs (SEN) information report.Local good practiceThe Academies Enterprise Trust ran a pilot project across eight of its academies, building early identification into their regular data analysis and prioritising a whole school approach linked to their SEN strategy. They:Improved identification by looking at expected prevalence and ‘red flags’Used school data and language measures to track progressCarried out intervention in and out of the classroomProvided professional development for a more skilled and confident teaching staffCarried out training and level 3 qualifications for support staff, maximising impactIf you work in a school or other education setting, we encourage you to use this list as a starting point for a discussion about the way you currently support children and young people with SLCN, and any actions you could take to improve that support. Resources to support you are available: www.bercow10yearson.com/schools-and-colleges/ What next for Bercow: Ten Years On?The RCSLT and I CAN are continuing to work together to pursue the implementation of the recommendations within the report, and will publish an update on progress in March 2019. We hope you will join us in making a commitment to take action which will improve support for children and young people with SLCN. If you would like to see change happen at a national level, you may wish to sign the petition calling on the Government to implement the recommendations, which has been tabled on the Parliament website and will remain open until 26 September 2018: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/215643 Caroline Wright is the Policy Adviser at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.References        Bryan K., Freer J. ,& Furlong C. (2007). Language and communication difficulties in juvenile offenders. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 42(5): 505–520.        Department for Children, Schools and Families. (2008). The Bercow Report: A review of services for children and young people (0–19) with speech, language and communication needs. http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/8405/7/7771-dcsf-bercow_Redacted.pdf        Hollo, A,. Wehby, J.H., & Oliver R.M. (2014). Unidentified language deficits in children with emotional and behavioral disorders: A meta-analysis. Exceptional Children 80(2): 169–186.        Law, J., McBean, K. & Rush, R. (2011). Communication skills in a population of primary school‑aged children raised in an area of pronounced social disadvantage. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 46(6): 657–664.        McCool S and Stevens IC. (2011). Identifying speech, language and communication needs among children and young people in residential care. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 46(6): 665–674.        Norbury, C.F., Gooch, D., Wray, C., Baird, G., Charman, T., Simonoff, E., Vamvakas, A. & Pickles, A. (2016). The impact of nonverbal ability on prevalence and clinical presentation of language disorder: Evidence from a population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57(11): 1247–1257.        Ripley, K. & Yuill, N. (2005). Patterns of language impairment and behaviour in boys excluded from school. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 75: 37–50.Further reading        Developmental language disorder: Suffering in Silence by Adi Bloom, TES, 2 February 2018: https://www.tes.com/news/suffering-silence-1        What Works database: https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/whatworks         Education Endowment Foundation: Oral language interventions https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/oral-language-interventions/        RCSLT guide to employing a speech and language therapist – what schools need to know: https://www.rcslt.org/speech_and_language_therapy/commissioning/employing_an_slt"
      ["matchLevel"]=>
      string(7) "partial"
      ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
      bool(false)
      ["matchedWords"]=>
      array(4) {
        [0]=>
        string(9) "emotional"
        [1]=>
        string(9) "wellbeing"
        [2]=>
        string(8) "literacy"
        [3]=>
        string(7) "reading"
      }
    }
    ["categories"]=>
    array(5) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(10) "Conditions"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [1]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(6) "Family"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [2]=>
      array(4) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(31) "Mental Health"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(7) "partial"
        ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
        bool(true)
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(2) {
          [0]=>
          string(6) "mental"
          [1]=>
          string(6) "health"
        }
      }
      [3]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(13) "Special Needs"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [4]=>
      array(4) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(18) "Wellbeing"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(7) "partial"
        ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
        bool(true)
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(1) {
          [0]=>
          string(9) "wellbeing"
        }
      }
    }
    ["tags"]=>
    array(12) {
      [0]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(6) "Bercow"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [1]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(20) "Communication Skills"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [2]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(18) "effective practice"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [3]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(5) "I CAN"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [4]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(17) "Language Disorder"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [5]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(19) "Language Impairment"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [6]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(21) "looked after children"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [7]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(49) "Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [8]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(4) "SLCN"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [9]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(19) "social disadvantage"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
      [10]=>
      array(4) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(25) "Social Wellbeing"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(7) "partial"
        ["fullyHighlighted"]=>
        bool(false)
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(1) {
          [0]=>
          string(9) "wellbeing"
        }
      }
      [11]=>
      array(3) {
        ["value"]=>
        string(27) "Speech and Language Therapy"
        ["matchLevel"]=>
        string(4) "none"
        ["matchedWords"]=>
        array(0) {
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Conditions

Communicating for Life

10 Sep 2018

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Create an account to read this article

£7.00+ VAT

Register for free

Cookies