Hello! Year of Communication  

Hello is the 2011 national year of communication - a campaign to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills. Hello aims to make communication for all children and young people a priority in homes and schools across the UK so that they can live life to the full. The national year was originally proposed by John Bercow MP in his 2008 Review of Services for Children and Young People (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs, (SLCN). The Bercow Review noted “there is grossly inadequate recognition across society of the importance of communication development..”

The newsletter for September is now available to view online via the "Hello" National Website.

Speech, language and communication underpin everything we do. Communication is a skill that we learn and develop and is something we can all improve. For some children, their daily struggle to communicate means they are shut out of everyday life. In the UK today, it is estimated that over 1 million children have long term and persistent speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). This can affect them early, severely and for life.

• In addition, in areas of poverty, over 50% of children are starting school with delayed language skills. They may have a smaller vocabulary, unclear speech or be able to understand only simple instructions.
• 50 -90% of children with persistent SLCN go on to have reading difficulties.
• Only a fifth of children with SLCN reach the expected levels for their age in English and Maths at age 11.

The York review of SLCN began in 2008 and identified a need for more coordination of SLCN services and a greater priority to be placed on early intervention, that ensures equality of opportunity for children. Ensuring children develop early communication skills is an essential building brick to ‘narrowing the gap’ in schools.
The work of the Inclusion Development Programme and the Every Child a Talker project have supported staff in schools and early years settings to increase their understanding and skills in working with children with SLCN.
“Staff self-assessment against 7 elements of SLCN provision indicate that they report feeling more experienced and knowledgeable and have greater confidence in inclusive Quality First Teaching.”
The Every Child a Talker programme has funding until March 2011 for twenty targeted settings, which includes four maintained schools. To date outcomes are demonstrating pleasing progress.In York we were pleased to welcome Jean Gross the national Communication Champion in November to talk about our services and future plans. We will be promoting the needs of children with SLCN throughout the year.

You can also view monthly themes for the year of communication online.