A new post arrived this week on the blog of I CAN, the children’s communication charity. The post discusses a new programme that I CAN is proud to be a part of – Engage in Education. You can read their blog post here: http://blog.ican.org.uk/2011/09/blog-by-victoria-riley-hill-i-can-communication-advisor-working-in-engage-in-education/
I CAN is working in conjunction with the Department of Education and a number of organisations including Catch22, Rathbone, PPP (Pupil Parent Partnership) and Dyslexia Action. The Engage in Education programme aims to “support young people at risk of exclusion by identifying and supporting hidden needs including language, communication and literacy”.
Catch22, a charity working with young people, describes the Engage in Education programme as offering “schools and academies specialist services designed to increase the attendance and attainment of pupils most at risk of exclusion from school”. Organisations such as Catch22, Rathbone and PPP have experience working directly with young people at risk of exclusion, providing volunteers, key workers and teaching staff. I CAN and Dyslexia Action are particularly well placed to provide information and guidance around meeting the communication needs of young people, and how difficulties with speech, language and communication can impact upon a young person’s development and wellbeing. It is hoped that a working partnership between the organisations will provide tailored support for each young person depending on their individual needs and circumstances.
I CAN’s communication advisor, Victoria Riley-Hill, is liaising with the project and is delighted that the government is supporting young people at risk of exclusion. She writes, “For many years now I’ve been working with school staff and parents to support their understanding of the link between communication and behaviour needs. Now the Government has realised the importance too. It’s a wonderful opportunity”.
The programme follows the 2011 ‘Hello’ campaign, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapist’s (RCSLT) Giving Voice campaign and the recent autumn Communication Champion conferences, all of which have aimed to bring the speech, language and communication needs of children and young people to the public attention.
Further Information
‘Hello’ Campaign – http://www.hello.org.uk/
Giving Voice – http://www.givingvoiceuk.org/
Communication Champion – http://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/bcap/champion.aspx
Sarah Bennington, September 2011
Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services. Integrated Treatment Services is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire and the East Midlands. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Therapists.
