MAKE CHATTER MATTER CAMPAIGN

That this House congratulates I CAN, the children's communication charity, on its Make Chatter Matter campaign, supported by the BT Better World Campaign and Openreach; recognises that communication is the foundation life skill which underpins the Every Child Matters aims of enabling children to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being; notes with concern that speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) is one of the biggest causes of developmental delay in children and that in some parts of the UK as many as half the children entering primary school have SLCN; stresses the vitally important role that I CAN plays throughout the UK in helping to address children's communication needs and champion their interests; notes the role that The Communication Trust - hosted by I CAN - plays in ensuring that the entire children's workforce are given the skills to support children's communication development; and urges the Government to develop a national framework for speech and language, ensuring that through world class commissioning every local area configures services to support children with SLCN at every age and stage of development.