Better communication: Improving services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs
Speech, language and communication are crucial to every child’s ability to access and get the most out of education and life. Children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are amongst the most vulnerable and most in need of effective support to reach their potential.
Following the Review of services for children and young people with SLCN by John Bercow MP, the Government published Better Communication: An action plan to improve services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs on 17 December 2008.
Work with the alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) sector
Becta is making grants totalling up to £1.5 million to support the alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) sector between 2009-10 and 2011-12 on behalf of the DCSF and the Department of Health (DH). The deadline for applications for grants in 2009-10 has now passed and the successful organisations will be announced soon. An application process for grants in 2010-11 will be launched later in 2009-10. For more information on these grants see the page on AAC grants .
Becta is also recruiting a national alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) coordinator to support work across the sector. The deadline for applications for the role has now passed and more information will be announced soon.
The Communication Champion and the Communication Council
In Better Communication, the SLCN action plan, the Government committed to the appointment of a Communication Champion and the formation of the Communication Council to support initiatives to improve services for children with SLCN. The Government remains committed to having an effective Champion and Council in place as soon as possible.
The terms of reference for the Communication Council are included in Annex B of Better Communication, the SLCN action plan.
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Support for the Communication Champion and the Communication Council
We are currently tendering for an organisation to provide support to the Communication Council and to host and support the Communication Champion. The deadline for tenders was 15 June 2009. We expect to complete this procurement exercise and be able to announce the outcome by mid-July.
- The Communication Champion
The DCSF and the DH are making arrangements for an agency to run an open recruitment exercise for the Communication Champion. The recruitment exercise is expected to begin before the end of July 2009, once it is clear which organisation will host the Champion. The Champion will be appointed by the DCSF and DH with the approval of ministers at the end of this recruitment exercise.
SLCN Commissioning Pathfinders
The DH and the DCSF have sought applications from service commissioners in local areas to take part in the SLCN Commissioning Pathfinders programme. The areas selected to take part in the programme will be announced in July 2009.
More information about the programme is available from the Department of Health website.
SLCN Cost-Effectiveness Research Programme
The DCSF and the DH have tendered for an organisation to lead a research programme to guide the development of future policy and practice in providing services for children and young people with SLCN. Details of the programme will be announced shortly.
For more information, please see the Department’s Research website.
