Nursery World - Review calls for early intervention

It is vital that children with speech and language difficulties are spotted before they start school, the independent review into speech and language services has found.

Led by Conservative MP John Bercow, the final report, published onTuesday, highlights a crucial link between early intervention andidentification with children's later educational attainment.

It includes 40 recommendations, including a National Year of Speech,Language and Communication to raise awareness.

It also calls for closer working between health and education servicesorganised around the family and prioritised by level of need, and fortraining to ensure that everyone working with children has a basicunderstanding of typical communication development so that they canidentify any problems.

Children's communication charity I CAN, a member of the expert advisorypanel, described the review as 'groundbreaking'.

Chief executive Virginia Beardshaw said, 'It moves the neglected issueof speech, language and communication out of the shadows and into thespotlight. Communication is central to children's life chances, directlyunderpinning learning, attainment, friendships and well-being.'

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