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<p>We know that poor speech, language and communication (SLC) skills can hold children
back at school and limit their later life chances. This was identified as an issue
in all 12 of the Opportunity Areas, which is why we have put plans in place to improve
outcomes in the early years and across all the different phases and age ranges.</p><p>Particular
projects that include or focus on children over the age of five include the following:</p><p>In
Stoke-on-Trent, we are extending the successful “Stoke Speaks Out” initiative to 25
primary schools with lower than average numbers of children attaining a good level
of development. This will provide targeted, specialist support for early language,
communication and literacy.</p><p>In Derby, we are inviting schools in the most deprived
areas to participate in ‘Talk Derby’, an ambitious SLC programme offering a package
of support including developing an improvement plan against their particular needs
providing training and development for ‘front-line practitioners’ in identifying and
supporting SLC needs and training parents to introduce an early talkers programme.</p><p>In
Blackpool, we are targeting nine secondary schools in a key stage 3 reading project.
This will provide a series of interventions with the aim of increasing students’ reading
fluency, enhancing their vocabulary and improving their comprehension.</p><p>In Fenland
and East Cambridgeshire, we are funding five schools to run evidence-based research
projects to improve language and communication skills in their pupils, with a particular
focus on the most disadvantaged.</p><p>In West Somerset, three schools have taken
part in a systematic synthetic phonics programme, “Read Write Inc”, delivered by Ruth
Miskin training. We are now making plans for a more widespread synthetic phonics programme
for the next academic year.</p><p>In Bradford, we have approved a project through
our Strategic School Improvement Fund that will support 23 schools to improve outcomes
at key stage 1.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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