Communication is the foundation of all life skills. The development of a child’s communication ability has an impact on their learning, school performance and employment prospects as well as on their emotional wellbeing and behaviour.
‘The term speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) encompasses a wide range of difficulties related to all aspects of communication in children and young people. These can include difficulties with fluency, forming sounds and words, formulating sentences, understanding what others say and using language socially.’ (Bercow Report 2008)
Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) describes difficulties across one or many aspects of communication including difficulties with:
- producing speech sounds accurately.
- stammering and voice problems such as hoarseness and loss of voice.
- receptive language (making sense of what people say).
- expressive language (words and sentences).
- socially interacting with others.
If a child or young person’s rate of progress is slower than others, this does not necessarily mean that they have SEND. Individuals learn and progress at different rates and times. If progress is much slower than other people, slower than previously or appears to cease, then this should be immediately investigated and supported through an ‘assess, plan, do, review’ process.