Many students will start secondary school with unidentified speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) as difficulties are often missed or misidentified.
The Communication Trust (‘Talk of the Town’, 2014) found that an average of around 40% of children with SLCN were not being identified. Those who were most difficult to spot were older students, particularly those with difficulties understanding language, of whom 48% in Key Stage 3 were not identified. This figure is staggering.
In the current landscape of therapist shortages and ever-increasing constraints in education settings, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and disillusioned. You may experience frustration around not being able to achieve all you had hoped for when you began as a SENCO: supporting your SEND students to the best of your ability.
As difficult as these feelings may be, it’s also crucial to acknowledge that without change, we risk missing the opportunity to improve the future for our children and young people with SLCN. So, what are the main issues and what is the impact of SLCN at secondary school? It’s good to keep abreast of the facts, and in doing so, you might find that putting support in place at this stage can make a bigger difference than you initially thought.
A Steep Increase in Language and Communication Demands at Secondary School
There is an enormous increase in demand on our students’ language, communication and executive function skills at secondary school, yet their brains and skills are far from developed.
Students will encounter increasingly complex and nuanced language together with higher volumes of information. The effect of this combined with greater social demands and juggling multiple subjects, teachers and peers should not be underestimated. Nor should the effects of adolescence and significant structural changes going on in teenage brains at a time when young people are trying to establish their identity and fit in with their peers.
The Hidden Nature of Language and Communication Difficulties
Language and communication needs that might not have had significant impact at primary school may now start to present significant challenges for a student. However, these difficulties can be hard to spot—often ‘hidden’ by challenging behaviour or masking, especially in girls.
Research estimates that there are two children in every classroom with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)—a lifelong condition which affects people’s ability to express and understand language.
Difficulties with understanding are almost impossible to spot from observation alone. On the surface teenagers may appear capable communicators but they may have become adept at masking, copying their peers or hiding behind learnt classroom routines.
Sadly, and not uncommonly, students’ SLCN may only be diagnosed because of extreme behaviours such as self-harming, eating disorders, anxiety-based school absence and angry outbursts. Research has found that 8 in 10 children with emotional and behaviour disorders have unidentified language difficulties (Hollo et al., 2014).
Impact of SLCN on Academic Achievement and Friendships
Good understanding and functional communication skills are essential for literacy development, academic success and engagement and social participation.
Without identification and the right interventions to support them, students with SLCN are at risk of underachievement and having mental health issues, behavioural problems, low self-esteem, difficulty making friends, low attendance and reduced life chances. Just 20% of students with SLCN achieve grade 4/C or above in English and maths at GCSE, compared with 64% of all pupils.
It’s Never Too Late to Identify SLCN
Despite the evidenced benefits of early intervention, it is NEVER too late to identify and support the SLCN of a student. That is why universal language screening in year 7 is vitally important. It will help unearth language difficulties and allow for timely intervention, to lessen the impact on a student’s learning, behaviour and wellbeing.
Universal Assessment and Interventions
Secondary Language Link enables schools to identify students’ language and communication needs at the start of Year 7. It also enables schools to put timely, individualised interventions in place to reduce the barriers preventing them from achieving their full academic and communication potential.
Its online assessment is designed to screen all students in year 7 to ensure that no one falls under the radar. It is standardised and covers core language and social understanding. Furthermore, its age-appropriate, targeted language interventions will be recommended for students with identified receptive language and communication difficulties. These are fully planned and resourced and accompanied by online staff training, created by speech and language therapists, to empower teachers to identify and support SLCN in the classroom.
Research studies demonstrate that students’ functional language and communication skills significantly improved following Secondary Language Link intervention, as did their confidence. The power and impact of universal screening in Year 7 cannot be overstated.
How Can You Help?
As a SENCO, your role in identifying and supporting students with speech, language, and communication needs is vital. Despite the challenges and constraints you face, there are effective tools and strategies available to help you make significant impact and ensure that no student with language difficulties falls through the cracks. Remember, your dedication and proactive approach can transform the educational journey for many students with language needs, helping them to achieve their full potential and thrive both academically and socially.
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Does this article resonate with you? Could you advocate for those who struggle to be heard, and be the catalyst for positive change in your setting? Click on information to find out how we can help you. To book a FREE, no obligation trial to Secondary Language Link, including assessments for up to 15 pupils, click here.
For those who already have our Secondary Language Link package, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly Help Desk if you want to chat through anything package-related, including how to use it to its fullest potential: 0333 577 0784 (available weekdays, including holidays 8:30am-5pm). We have therapists on hand if you are after speech and language expertise to support you on your Speech & Language Link journey!