Early years professionals are not receiving enough information or training on how to support children who have speech and language difficulties, new research shows.
A survey of nearly 200 early years professionals, carried out by Nursery World, children's communication charity I CAN and BT's Better World campaign, found that 88 per cent had worked with children who had speech and language problems. Yet half had never received advice on how to support them.
While two-thirds felt confident supporting children's speech, language and communication development, only one-third could identify what constituted a communication-friendly environment.
Knowledge of communication milestones was also limited. Most respondents had a basic understanding of how a child should be communicating from birth to two, but they struggled to identify what a three- to- four-year-old should be able to do.
Virginia Beardshaw, I CAN chief executive, warned that in certain areas in the UK more than 50 per cent of children start primary school without the communication skills they need.
'If we are to entrust early years workers with our children's communication it is imperative that we give them all the support and guidance we can,' she said.
Nursery World editor Liz Roberts added, 'Our readers report that an increasing number of children need support with speech and language difficulties, and they will welcome high-quality resources and training to enable them to make a real difference.'
