Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Lucy Adams, the Education Correspondent, along with Katy McCloskey from BBC Scotland News, covers the story of Callum, a five-year-old child with autism who is non-verbal. Despite receiving weekly one-to-one speech and language therapy at nursery, his progress was halted once he started primary school, leaving his family concerned about his ability to communicate.
The report, according to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), highlights the increasing demand for speech and language therapists (SLT) in Scotland, while the number of therapists falls behind the rest of the UK. In some cases, children are waiting up to three years for the support they need, with more than half of those requiring specialist assistance waiting over 18 weeks.
Glenn Carter, the head of RCSLT in Scotland, emphasizes the importance of integrating SLT services into nurseries and schools to support children at an early stage. He points out the disparity in funding levels across different areas, leaving those most in need without adequate resources. Teachers note a rising trend of children entering primary school without verbal communication skills, as highlighted by recent figures from Public Health Scotland.
Callum’s case exemplifies the challenges faced by children like him, who struggle to receive the necessary support for their speech and language development. Despite promises from the Scottish government and local councils to address the issue, families like Callum’s continue to express concern over the lack of specialized assistance, crucial for children like Callum to develop essential communication skills at a critical stage in their lives
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.