According to the Department for Education’s 2012 School Census, speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are the most common type of SEN in primary schools (29 per cent of the total). At secondary level, SLCN may be more difficult to quantify, but the study revealed significant differences in comprehension scores at secondary schools, with 21 per cent of socially disadvantaged pupils identified with significant and hitherto undetected language difficulties.
The government’s Better Communication Research Programme (BCRP) supplied further evidence for supporting speech, language and communication in schools: statements for SLCN have risen 72 per cent between 2006 and 2011. The BCRP confirmed links between disadvantage and language difficulties, with children receiving free school meals being twice as likely to have SLCN, highlighting the need to provide effective support for the most vulnerable children.
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