Primary schools say it makes children fall behind from the start
Children in Wales are starting school unable to speak in full sentences, a new survey of teachers has found.
Primary School teachers in Wales say they “often” see children start school struggling with speech and language.
Some children are unable to understand simple instructions or speak in full sentences when they start reception, a report by Save the Children Wales has revealed.
Teachers say it is causing children to fall behind their peers.
Nearly eight in ten reception teachers who answered the charity’s survey reported that they often seeing children join their school struggling to speak in full sentences.
Of those asked, 57% warned it makes it hard for them to make friends, 89% saying it makes them fall behind in learning and 70% saying some children can’t understand simple instructions.
The survey, carried out by research consultancy ComRes, follows a previous report from Children in Wales showing children who struggle early on in school have still not caught up on literacy by the age of 11.
'Negative impact'
The charity believes that speech and language delay is a primary cause of the persistent attainment gap between children living in poverty and their better off peers in Wales.
One in four children growing up in poverty leave primary school not reading well.
Among teachers questioned about the effects of poverty on a child’s early speech and language eight in 10 agreed poverty can have a negative impact and 97% agreed that more should be invested in early years services to improve the speech and language skills of children arriving at primary school.
The teachers warned poor language skills made it hard for the children to learn to read and express their own ideas.
Caroline Newman, headteacher at Gladstone Primary School in Barry and President of teaching union NAHT Cymru said: “We have certainly seen a significant rise in the number of our children entering school with speech and language difficulties.
“Children with poor language skills are at an immediate disadvantage and this can also often result in challenging behaviours due to frustration which further impedes development and learning.
“There is a huge need for parental awareness and engagement and also for far reaching training and expertise within our early years settings to provide the support these children desperately need.”
'Impact on life chances'
Save the Children said that early language skills are the foundations for a child’s development, confidence, and ability to learn. They also have a significant impact on their social skills, relationships, and behaviour, the charity added.
Director of Policy at NAHT Cymru Rob Williams said: “We know that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds can arrive in school, at aged four-years-old, up to 40% behind their peers in terms of their development.
“Our members frequently cite speech and language acquisition as one of the clearest areas for additional support and unless this difference is addressed early it can affect a child’s ability to access the wider curriculum and impact on their life chances as an adult.”
Save the Children called on the Welsh Government to use its 10-year plan for the early years, childcare and play workforce, due in spring 2017, to ensure all children and parents in all early years’ settings have access to the expertise of a graduate-level practitioner, along with training for the wider workforce and increased support for parents.
Mary Powell-Chandler, Head of Save the Children in Wales said: “In Wales, much work has been done to address the persistent attainment gap between children living in poverty and their better off peers.
"However, this survey is a snapshot of the issues that take hold in children’s earliest years, before they even reach the school gates.
“Poverty is damaging too many children’s learning before they have even set foot in a classroom.
"If we’re serious about closing the attainment gap, and giving every child a fair start, we must take increased action in children’s earliest years.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/children-starting-school-struggling-speech-12169689
No comments:
Post a Comment