Nursery World - 'Funding for children's speech and language has been sorely lacking'

Up to 1.5 million children are at risk of speech and language delay, which is why their support needs to be at the heart of this week’s Spending Review, says Carol Payne, interim chief executive of I CAN, the children's communication charity

Carol Payne: 'Support for speaking and understanding language must play a central role in any new early years initiative'

What happens during pregnancy and early childhood has a fundamental impact on a child’s future. Central to that is speaking and understanding language, which are crucial for everything we do: making friends, learning, good mental health, getting a job.

That’s why I CAN, the children’s communication charity, is calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to place support for speaking and understanding at the heart of this week’s Spending Review.

We learnt at the weekend that there is to be investment into early years and notably for new Family Hubs to provide more integrated support for families. We believe that support for speaking and understanding language must play a central role in any new early years initiative.

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