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Proposed cuts to specialist speech therapy schools

Friday 29th April 2016
The importance of specialist speech therapy schools has been questioned amidst calls to cut services. Image Credit: Christopher Futcher via iStock
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There are new concerns that closing speech and language schools would hinder the progress made by young people.

Lincolnshire City Council has proposed new plans to close these specialist primary units across the county, the Lincolnite reports, but there have been worries that this could affect children with speech or language problems.

The council opened a consultation, which ended on April 22nd, to discuss whether to close all three of the dedicated speech and language units later this year. It is expected to deliver a decision on June 10th.

Currently, the Lincolnshire Community Health Service (LCHS) support more than 3,150 children with a speech or language impairment up to the age of 16, but just 21 are enrolled at the three schools.

Lincolnshire City Council has said that many parents who have children with these types of issues prefer to keep them in their local school, rather than referring them to a specialist unit.

Instead of having the schools, which the council says are underused, mainstream schools would be required to provide the support needed for children in this situation. This highlights the importance of speech and language therapists who could assist primary schools to help young people in mainstream institutions.

However, there are concerns that schools wouldn't be able to cope with this additional requirements.

A member of staff at one of the specialised speech and language units in Lincolnshire said children have "floundered" in mainstream classes, causing them to become introverted, self-conscious and suffer from low self-esteem.

They said: “I have personally seen speech and language children blossom and gain the skills and confidence to speak and, when ready, integrated back into mainstream school."

The fast-paced nature and strict timings of mainstream schools meant many children with speech and language difficulties struggled to keep up, the member of staff added.

Written by Martin Lambert

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