In recent years, more and more children are arriving at school with difficulties talking, listening, and understanding language.

If youre a teacher, a parent, or work with children in any way you've probably noticed it too.

So whats going on? And why is speech and language support such a big deal right now?

Lets break it down in a simple, light-hearted waywith some important facts, real-life impact, and practical tips for schools and teachers.

The Facts

• 1 in 5 children in the UK is struggling with talking or understanding words. Thats nearly 1.9 million children.
• Around two children in every classroom have a condition called Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
• These difficulties can lead to struggles in reading, writing, behaviour, friendshipsand even confidence.
• Most teachers (about half) say they havent had enough training to support children with speech and language needs.

Blame It (Partly) on the Pandemic

Children born during the pandemic had less interaction with others. No baby groups, no nursery songs with friends, not even chatting in the supermarket!

The result? Many children are starting school with less vocabulary, poorer social skills, and delays in speech and language development.

And sadly, its not just a they'll catch up later issue. These challenges can last if not supported early.

Why Teachers Are Feeling the Pressure

With stretched resources, packed classrooms, and a wide range of learning needs, many teachers feel overwhelmed.

But heres the good news: small changes can make a big difference. You dont need to be a speech therapist to help children communicate better.

What can Schools Do?

Here are a few easy ways to boost speech and language support in your classroom:

• Visual timetables pictures help children understand routines.
• Simplified instructions keep it short, clear and in steps.
• Talk time give children regular chances to talk in pairs and small groups.
• Use of gestures pointing, actions, and facial expressions help support understanding.

And dont forget: if you're worried about a child, speak to your schools SENCO or local speech and language therapist.

Final Thoughts

Children can't learn if they can't understand or express themselves. By making classrooms more language-friendly, were not just helping children speakwere helping them succeed in every part of school life.

So yes, speech and language support is more important than ever. But with the right awareness and a few simple strategies, schools can turn the tide.