Print this page
Vital links to life
In the same way a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step, a child's first words and sentences are the foundation for their lifelong communications. They are the platform from which a child builds future relationships, shares experiences and learns.
However, as many as 4 in 5 of the children who started school for the first time in 2006 did not have the basic skills needed to learn. One in ten children also has a recognisable communication disability.
Without basic skills communication skills, children struggle to learn, express themselves and build relationships.*
What this means for a child's future
Without the right help, at the right time, these children will be left out and left behind - unable to benefit fully from their education and denied the opportunity to reach their full potential. This can have a devastating impact on them, their families and the communities in which they live.
I CAN’s reports describe how children with unsupported / undetected communication difficulties and disabilities are more likely to:
-
have academic difficulties
-
find it hard to form social relationships
-
suffer behavioural and emotional difficulties
-
have poor employment prospects
-
in some cases become involved in criminal activity.
That’s why the work that Openreach is doing to support I CAN is so important.
The good news
We can all help change the future of Britain’s Children for the better!
-
With identification and the right help, many of the children who start school with poor communication skills will catch up
-
The earlier communication difficulties are identified, the more quickly children can be helped to catch up
-
If language difficulties are resolved by the time children are 5½, they are likely to go on to develop good reading and spelling skills
* All information on this page is sourced from I CAN ( www.ican.org.uk)
