Exclusive:Call to embed speech and language therapists in every Scottish school and nursery
Embedding a speech and language therapist in every school and nursery would help support children’s mental health
Pupils’ mental health and life chances would be improved by embedding a speech and language therapist (SLT) in every school and nursery in Scotland, experts claim.
The professional body for SLTs is calling for the next Scottish Government to pledge an overhaul of how the service is delivered.
It would see children receive communication support in school but require a major increase in the workforce.
Glenn Carter, Head of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) Scotland, said: “Embedding speech and language therapists in education could transform the outcomes of a generation of children, improve their learning and life chances.
“Communication is fundamental to a child’s wellbeing, learning and participation in school and society.
“Speech and language therapists delivering support to children where they are is rights-respecting and leads to the best outcomes for the child.”
Figures from the RCSLT show one in four - or 275,000 - children and young people in Scotland need help with speech, language or communication.
Without support, this can lead to distressed behaviour or a refusal to engage in learning, putting extra train on teachers.
Rather than having pupils leave school to go to therapy sessions, the RCSLT wants to see a roll out of a scheme piloted in Lothian, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.
This would see an SLT work out of nurseries and schools but require an extra 370 full-time equivalent therapists.
Scotland has seen a smaller rise in the number of therapists compared to the rest of the UK.
Since 2019, the SLT workforce in Scotland has grown by only four per cent compared to an average of 22 per cent in the rest of the UK - a growth five times faster.
Scotland is currently producing around 75 SLT graduates each year from two four-year undergraduate courses at Queen Margaret University and the University of Strathclyde and one two-year postgraduate course at Queen Margaret University.
Unlike the rest of the UK, there are no part-time or accessible routes into training.
To achieve the RCSLT’s aims, Mr Carter said: “We need to increase the level of resource for children’s speech and language therapy across the country.
“This includes investing in training so more people can enter the SLT profession.”
The RCSLT is also calling for more resources to be made available to adult speech and language services.
It says this would ensure people get quality community care, reducing hospital admissions and providing timely access to vital rehabilitation for those who need it.
Recent figures show that there are almost 2,800 adults waiting to access speech and language therapy services in Scotland.
Other recommendations include widening access to speech and language therapy training courses and strengthening communication rights through legislation in Scotland.
Mr Carter added: “By enabling safe swallowing, which is the largest part of our work with adults, speech and language therapists ensure patients can eat and drink safely, avoid serious medical complications and ultimately prevent them ending up in hospital.
“Speech and language therapy will also be vital for the one in five of us who will experience communication difficulties in our lifetimes.
“Communication is a fundamental human right and we believe legislation is required to ensure that anyone with communication difficulties can access public services.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Strong communication skills underpin every aspect of a child’s development which is why a new national action plan to support speech and language skills was recently launched.
“This will help ensure children and families will benefit from better joined‑up speech, language and communication support from the earliest stages of life by strengthening collaborative support across health, education, and family support services. We value the contribution of speech and language therapists and continue to work closely with professional bodies, including RCSLT, as we take forward the commitments in the plan.
“The Scottish Government also continues to invest in early intervention, including funding a national team within NHS Education for Scotland to support workforce development.”
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