Nursery World - 40m for language needs

Children's speech and communication problems are the focus of a 40m Government initiative.

The early language programme Every Child A Talker will help nurseriesand childminders to access training and materials to support pre-schoolchildren's speaking and listening skills.

The funding is part of a package of measures announced in theGovernment's response to recommendations made by Conservative MP JohnBercow in his independent review, which looked at ways of improvingservices for children with communication problems (News, 10 July).

The review found the number of children who start school unable to speakin full sentences is rising.

The Government will also spend 12m on implementing 40recommendations from the review, with more details due to be revealed inthe autumn.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes said Every Child A Talker wouldimprove practitioners' knowledge and understanding 'encouraging earlylanguage development right from the outset so that before they startschool, children are confident and skilled communicators.'

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