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School-age children struggling with talking and understanding words following pandemic, survey finds | UK News


A new survey by a charity shows around 1.7 million school-age children in the UK are struggling with speaking and understanding words in the wake of the pandemic.

The English Language and Culture Foundation says figures show nearly a fifth of primary and secondary school children are at risk of being left behind if they don’t get the support they need.

Jane Harris, the charity’s chief executive, told Sky News: “Children can have trouble speaking and understanding words throughout their learning at school and indeed if we don’t help them. , they are more likely to fall behind in all major subjects.

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Jane Harris is the chief executive officer of Speech and Language UK

“They’re more likely to develop mental health problems, they’re more likely to end up with the criminal justice system, so we really need this new government to start taking some action.” take serious action to stop this problem at its root.”

The charity is running a “Tots Talking” program to help parents at Dragonfly Day Nursery in Stratford, East London, and other nurseries in the capital.

Alex Thomas attended with her two-year-old son Jacob, who was born at the start COVID closing order. She told Sky News she thinks the pandemic has had a negative impact on how his voice and language develop.

“We didn’t do much because we couldn’t,” she said. “We could go to the park, we could go and feed the ducks, but we don’t see friends and family and it helps to hear different conversations and hear different words. , and the like, but … he didn’t” couldn’t do it.

“He’s very talkative, but I think we take it for granted given how many different social situations help with communication.”

The charity found that 70% of teachers surveyed believe the government is not prioritizing children’s ability to speak and understand language.

Languages ​​and Languages ​​UK is calling on the government to fund better training for teachers, to help reverse the lingering impact of COVID.

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One in five primary and secondary school children is at risk of falling behind in learning

Speech and language counselor Denise Amankwah said: “Children are missing out on a lot of social opportunities.

“And if parents work from home, they may not have regular interaction time and that’s a really stressful time.

“So I think it has had a negative impact but the research that I’ve read shows that children will catch up if they are given the right tools and early on.”

Responding to the survey, a Department for Education spokesperson said: “We are investing almost £5 billion to help children and young people recover from the impact of the pandemic, including targeted support. Target the students most in need through our premier National Tutoring Program – with over two million high-quality tutoring courses already started.

“We are also investing £24 million in building children’s literacy skills as part of our ambition that 90% of children leave primary school to the expected reading standards, writing and math by 2030.”

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