Let’s change the World!

Speech, Language and Communication in Policy and Legislation 

 

Kim Hartley, RCSLT Scotland OfficerKim.hartley@rcslt.org

0131-226-5250

Speech, Language and Communication Development – why does it matter?

Optimising Speech, Language and Communication Development and the SLT role

3. Specialist Action6%, 2 – 3 / classroom

2. Targeted ActionUp to 50%

1. Universal Action 100%

Ever tried to herd cats?

Speech, Language and Communication – There it is again!

• UN Convention on Rights of the Child• The “SHANARRI” outcomes • “Getting it Right for Every Child” (GIRFEC)• Early Years Framework • AHP National Delivery Plan• Curriculum for Excellence• Common Core Skills alludes to speech, language and 

communication capacity• Literacy Action Plan

BUT NO STRATEGY

Change happens

Change is possible – I’ve seen it!

RCSLT • Submission on CYP Bill• Seminars for MSPs

• Correspondence with Ministers, meetings with Scot. Govt. leads

RCSLT, Barnardo’s Scotland, Children First, Children in Scotland, Aberlour Trust, Parenting across Scotland –

• Amendments to CYP Bill

Ministerial commitment to Statutory Guidance on Speech, Language and Communication provision

What is statutory guidance?1. Act

The Law

2. Regulations Detailed instructions on how law must be applied – “No choice”

3. Statutory Guidance Detailed guidance with a legal status on how law must be applied – “It’s expected 

you will do this”

4. Practice Guidance, protocols Guidance and procedures (more flexible, with no “legal status”) designed to help 

agencies, at a local level, comply with regulations and statutory guidance

Journey

SLC in Statutory Guidance Where has it got to?

• Proposal for the development of guidance to support the GIRFEC provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0044/00448228.pdf

• RCSLT Meetings and Briefings for Scottish Govt. Leads

• Draft statutory guidance – out for consultation around Autumn 2015

• Statutory Guidance in place around first half of 2015

Help Change Happen

• What’s do you want to see - from planning board tables to schools and classrooms - in relation to identification, assessment and provision for children with SLC needs in GME?

• What wording would need to be in statutory guidance to make that change happen?

Happy child, parent, teacher, therapist, world!