The Language Lead Role A guide for Owners

The Language Lead Role A guide for Owners and Manager Children’s Centre Speech and Language Therapy Team June 2019

Who’s Yours? In Nottinghamshire the NCFP Speech and Language Therapy team support more than 200 Language Leads? Who’s yours? And what do they do?

The Role of The Language Lead

Agenda • • • Why is language important? Background to the Language Lead approach Nottingham Trent University research 2018 Who to choose? What can you do?

SLCN is a Public Health Issue ! Educational achievement: • 50 - 90% of children with persistent SLCN go on to have reading difficulties (Stothard 1998) • 15% get 5 A-C GCSEs vs. 57% of all young people (The Bercow Report) • 1 in 4 children who struggled with language at age 5 did not reach the expected standard in English at the end of primary school Behaviour/vulnerability: • 2/3 of 7 -14 year olds with serious behaviour problems have language impairment (Cohen 1998) • Children with SLCN are more likely to be bullied (Knox 2003) Criminality: Employability: “. . communication skills and numeracy are the most 60% of young people in young offender important employability skills and a lack of them in institutions have communication difficulties a candidate is a ‘deal breaker’ for many employers”. (Sir Michael Rake, 2010). Children with poor vocabulary at age 5 are twice as likely to be unemployed when the y reach adulthood. Mental health: Those with a history of early language impairment are at higher risk of mental health problems e. g. Law 2018, vocabulary difficulties at age 5 are 3 times more likely to have mental health problems in adulthood. Disadvantage Cycle: Long term implications include poor literacy and academic performance, potential for school exclusion, possibly leading to youth justice or NEET. (Hart and Risley 1995/ I CAN Cost to the Nation)

Headlines from policy and research • The Home Learning Environment (Df. E, National Literacy Trust, 2018) importance to narrow the word gap, Chat, Play, Read. • Language as a Child Wellbeing Indicator (EIF, 2017)evaluates the link between language acquisition and life chances • High Impact Area 6, (PHE, 2018) -wellbeing and development of the child aged 2: Ready to learn, narrowing the word gap; health visitors leading • Bercow 10 Years On, (2018)services are inaccessible and inadequate; SLCNs under identified; need for early identification; need for training • “Things, people, numbers and words” (EIF, 2018)the importance of early intervention to develop children’s understanding including supportive factors and the importance of the caregivers and child-directed speech

Background • Language For Life –the vision • ECAT • Embedding of ECAT learning

Why now? Nottingham Trent University Research It’s massive what I’m learning…it’s just so important and interesting as well I think those training networks are brilliant, they’re really helpful…. just to keep you up to date. The satisfaction for me is being able to make a difference to the children… we see a difference in their PSED and in their confidence with their peers

Why now – Could do better! • Uncertainty about the role Our response: Guidebook, focus in networks • Guidance for new Language Leads Our response: new to the role networks, 3 way meeting with SLT and management • Engagement of managers: guidebook and this! “ Our head is on board with it, agrees with it, which is half the battle”

Who to choose • Passion for language and a belief that they can make a difference • Leadership • See page 3 for complete list

What can you do? • • Find out if you have a Language Lead Release them for training opportunities Give them time for the role Read the guidebook Contact your local CC SLT Value the role Encourage evaluation https: //www. nottinghamshirehealthcare. nhs. uk/language-for-life

SLT Team Leaders Rachel Dillon – 07816 851301 -Bassetlaw Helen Hegarty – 07816 851375 - Ashfield Jane Marr – 079661 49582 -Mansfield Sue Guest – 07920 082152 -Newark and Sherwood • Dave Mc. Donald – 07920 138129 -Rushcliffe, Gedling, Broxtowe • •

Any Questions? Thank you!