Record waiting lists for speech and language therapy are hindering pupils’ school attainment and creating extra challenges for teachers, heads are warning.
More than 75,000 children in England are waiting for speech and language therapy, the latest figures show.
NHS England data from May shows 97,824 people in the community waiting for help (76,331 children and 21,493 adults), with some facing long delays.
The data showed 22,115 children had been waiting 18 to 52 weeks, while 6,053 were waiting over a year.
The figures are a rise on the same month last year, when 90,571 people were waiting (72,168 children and 18,403 adults).
An analysis of the data has been produced today by The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.
‘Damaging to the young people involved’
Reacting to the new figures, school leaders said that speech and language therapy can “dramatically improve a pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and attainment”.
But, Pepe di’Lasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The shortage of speech and language specialists to support interventions is leading to poor access to curriculum and social interaction and is also likely driving lower attendance rates among pupils waiting for support.
“All of this creates additional challenges for teachers in the classroom, as well as being damaging to the young people involved.”
He called for more investment, as well as a “strategic workforce recruitment plan across the whole of the education and health sectors”.
Rob Williams, senior policy advisor at the NAHT school leaders’ union, also called for more investment in specialist services.
‘Schools left picking up the pieces’
Schools were “often left picking up the pieces” when other essential services were “cut to the bone”, he said.
Community speech and language therapists provide support to children and young people with speech, language and communication difficulties and issues with swallowing. They are also part of the team that assesses people for autism.
Therapists offer assessment and support in schools, health clinics, hospitals and nurseries.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, which analysed the data, has also surveyed its members on the current state of the sector. Some 299 speech and language therapy services across the UK responded to the poll that was shared, of which 160 are based in England.
The survey found 17 per cent of speech and language therapy posts in England are vacant (when both the NHS and independent sector vacancies are taken into account). When it comes to NHS posts alone, 16 per cent need to be filled.
The percentage of NHS vacancies for speech and language therapy supporting people with learning disabilities stands at 25 per cent, according to the findings.
The poll also found just under a quarter of London’s speech and language therapy posts are vacant.
‘Close to breaking point’
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ chief executive, Steve Jamieson, said: “Speech and language therapy services are close to breaking point with high vacancy rates and not enough people in the workforce to fill the roles.
“Depleted teams are grappling with supporting increasing numbers of people with communication, eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties, with waiting lists spiralling out of control.
“The number of children waiting for speech and language therapy is at an all-time high.”
He warned that when children’s communication needs are not identified early and supported, this can impact on their educational attainment, emotional wellbeing and mental health.
“The speech and language therapy workforce crisis must be addressed urgently, and we look forward to working with the new government to find sustainable solutions,” he added.
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