In September 2007 John Bercow MP was asked to lead an independent review of services for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). The first major review of this kind in seven years and it provided an excellent opportunity to bolster support for vulnerable children and young people.

The remit of the Review was broad and challenging. Evidence was gathered from a wide range of sources including:

• In October 2007, a consultation questionnaire was issued - over 2000 responses were received– including almost 1000 from families – by the January 2008 deadline.
• A series of consultation groups were staged to hear views about, communication difficulties and the plight of those who need alternative and augmentative communication aids to express themselves. In addition, further consultation groups were organised for the voices of parents, children and young people in locations across the country.
• Children’s centres, nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools across the UK were visited. The team met many children, young people and their parents, teachers, special needs coordinators, classroom assistants, speech and language therapists, together with other Primary Care Trust and local authority staff.
• Research was commissioned by leading academics in the field of speech, language and communication needs. This research explored the efficiency and effectiveness in six case study areas of the provision for children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties. It further assessed the feasibility of conducting a cost-benefit analysis of investment in services for this group.

The Bercow Report into speech, language and communication (SLC) provision was published on 8th July 2008. The review calls on Government to raise the profile of children with communication difficulties amongst local authorities and primary care trusts, as well as in wider society. Most of the recommendations deal with improving delivery on the ground, focussing on the need for more effective joined up commissioning and improving the ability of the children’s workforce to address SLC needs. The review found that, across the country, services and the capacity of the children’s workforce needs to improve and much more needs to be done to join up services at a local level.  A copy of the report can be accessed online at: www.dfes.gov.uk/bercowreview/. 
In response to the report, the government has announced a £52m investment to enable those working with pre-school children, such as nursery staff, to access training and materials to support young children’s early language development.  This investment is targeted to help the early identification of SLC needs, and provide early years staff with the skills they need to intervene where necessary. The programme has been labelled ‘Every Child a Talker’.  This response signals the government’s approach to SLC needs, will focus on the youngest children, aiming to address their needs as early as possible, and therefore reduce the cost of their provision in later years.  For older children, the government intends to develop the skills and capacity of the mainstream school workforce through the Inclusion Development Programme. More details can be found at: www.dcsf.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2008_0141