Many children with speech and language difficulties go unnoticed for years. They may be labelled as shy, naughty, or simply 'not trying hard enough'. But sometimes, the issue is that theyre struggling to understand or express themselves.

Here are 10 signs a child might need extra support:

1. Trouble following simple instructions.
2. Limited vocabulary for their age
3. Difficulty telling stories or explaining things clearly.
4. Mixing up word order or sentence structure
5. Not joining in conversations with peers
6. Repeating questions instead of answering them
7. Becoming easily frustrated when trying to speak
8. Struggling to find the right word
9. Poor attention or behaviour in class
10. Fallling behind in literacy tasks

What should you do

First, dont panic. You dont need to diagnose a child. But its important to raise your concernseither with the schools SENCO or a speech and language therapist.

Early support makes a world of difference. The sooner children get help, the more confident and capable they becomenot just in speaking, but in learning and life.

So keep your eyes and ears open, and trust your instincts. If something doesnt feel quite right with a childs communication, chances are, youre right to take a closer look.