Communication Trust

(asked on 29th January 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason his Department did not renew the specialist speech, language, and communication needs contract with The Communication Trust.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 1st February 2018

The department let a one year contract with I CAN, on behalf of The Communication Trust (TCT), in April 2017 to support the workforce to develop their skills in supporting children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). That contract is due to end as planned at the end of March 2018.

We recognise the important contribution this contract played in upskilling the workforce and supporting children and young people with SLCN and we remain committed to supporting those with SLCN.

The department is in the process of tendering for the provision of strategic support to the workforce in mainstream and special schools, enabling them to deliver high quality teaching which meets the needs of an increasingly broad range of special educational needs (SEN). The successful contractor will be expected to monitor any gaps in provision, and propose ways to meet those, working with relevant SEN organisations. This contract will run in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

In addition to this, as part of our drive to improve social mobility through education, we announced in our recent report, ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’ https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/667690/Social_Mobility_Action_Plan_-_for_printing.pdf, our intention to work with Public Health England to support children’s early SLCN. Further details will be announced in due course.

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