To: MP E-MAIL
Cc:
Re: Meeting request to discuss the importance of children’s speech, language and communication
Dear INSERT NAME,
Congratulations on your re-election / election as my MP for insert constituency. This election was so tight, it must have been a tough battle. As a resident of your constituency, I would like to request a meeting to discuss a subject that means a lot to me – the importance of children’s speech, language and communication.
You may have seen my message during the campaign, raising concerns that I have about the support available for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). I am a insert professionat insert organisation, a member of The Communication Trust – a coalition ofover 50 not-for-profit organisations who work together to support the speech, language and communication of children and young people in England.
I wanted to meet you to discuss how we can ensure that the next Government recognise that communication provides the foundation for children’s development and can affect their life chances. Vocabulary difficulties at age five are significantly associated with poor literacy, mental health and employment outcomes at age 34, and as many as 60% of young offenders and 88% of long-term unemployed young men have been found to have SLCN. This is why we must address the situation where a quarter of children are starting school with their life chances already at a severe disadvantage because they have not had their communication needs identified and addressed.
Some of the solutions to address this were outlined in The Communication Trust manifesto, which may be foundbelow.
Could we meet to discuss how this Parliament could achieve these goals?I would appreciate it if you copy in Anne Fox, Director of The Communication Trust - in your reply.
I look forward to hearing from you!
INSERT NAME
INSERT ADDRESS
Make sure you include your address, or at least your post code, so your candidate knows that you live in their constituency.
The Manifesto for Children’s Communication – 2015
The programme of government best placed to deliver good outcomes for children’s communication will include:
- Positive focus on building the skills of the children’s workforce in supporting children’s communication
- A focus on curriculum and content throughout children’s education which supports good communication outcomes and builds their skills
- A focus on accountability of the early years and education system which supports good practice in supporting work which leads to good communication outcomes for children and young people
In asking for specific policy commitments The Communication Trust is intending to drive debate and discussion towards policy outcomes which include the recognition of the importance of focussing on children’s communication. In doing so we have 4 goals.
Goal 1: Ensuring the early years and education workforce have the requisite skills, knowledge, confidence and attitudes to promote language development, and identify and support speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
- Our policy ask: That all initial training for teachers and early years staff includes speech, language and communication development and SLCN, and there is a requirement that all early years and education staff have training and continuing professional development opportunities which include a focus on communication development and SLCN.
Goal 2: Ensuring children with SLCN have their education and health needs identified and met in their earliest years
- Our policy ask: A cross-departmental Early Years Minister who could drive forward an integrated education, health, welfare and business approach to early years, early education and childcare policy, to meet the needs of children, parents, providers and the economy alike; with a specific focus on improved outcomes for children with additional needs.
Goal 3: Ensuring that schools are able to support children and young people to develop communication skills for life
- Our policy ask: That spoken language skills are given equal importance to written communication skills in education. Communication skills for life should form part of every schools’ curriculum and should be part of school inspection - recognising that spoken language is applied to every situation.
Goal 4: Ensuring a vibrant and self-sustaining SLCN VCS is equipped to better support children, young people and families
- Our policy ask: That a commission be formed looking at the range of needs which the VCS can best support and assess and increase the capacity of the relevant organisations to better meet children and young people’s SLCN in a way that moves from a reliance on charitable donation and statutory funding.