Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) form the largest number of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in England – 24% in 2024, according to Department for Education analysis, with this number continuing to rise and now sitting at 30% based on recent Speech and Language UK analysis. In addition, large numbers of children have speech and language challenges which are either not recognised or misdiagnosed.
In the context of the forthcoming Schools White Paper – including the Government’s focus on making mainstream schools more inclusive – there has been increasing interest in resourced provision for pupils with SEND. Yet, while these resourced provisions are becoming more common for other SEND groups in England, they are less well-established for children with speech and language challenges – and with those that did exist either being defunded or replaced with provision for other conditions, according to a 2024 FFT education datalab report.
Ahead of the Schools White Paper, this roundtable brought together senior representatives from school settings, teaching unions, relevant charities as well as policymakers to discuss what good SRP in this area might look like, the challenges involved in its development and implementation, and what policy gaps remain with regards to supporting children with SLCN.
Partner with us
This roundtable was an invitation-only event as part of the Education Policy Institute’s partnership programme. To discuss running a private roundtable with EPI, please contact Tim Archer (tim.archer@epi.org.uk) or Adam Richards-Gray (adam.richards-gray@epi.org.uk) – or you can find out more about wider partnership opportunities here
