Hello Campaign For The National Year Of Communication

EDM number 1499 in 2010-12, proposed by David Amess on 01/03/2011.
Categorised under the topic of Special educational needs.

That this House welcomes the Hello Campaign for the National Year of Communication; notes that the campaign, run by The Communication Trust, a coalition of over 35 leading voluntary sector organisations, and in partnership with Jean Gross, the Government's Communication Champion, aims to increase understanding of how important it is for children and young people to develop good communication skills; further notes that the campaign was originally proposed in the Independent Review of Services for Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) and received strong cross-party support; further notes that in the 21st century, the ability to communicate, to say what you want to say and understand what other people are saying, is fundamental; further notes with concern that in the UK, over one million children and young people have some form of speech, language or communication need which can affect them severely; further notes that in areas of poverty, over 50 per cent. of children start school with delayed language skills; congratulates the campaign's ambition to help thousands of children and young people across the UK to improve their communication skills so they can live life to the full; and urges the Government to ensure that the needs of children with SLCN are addressed in the forthcoming SEN Green Paper, policy announcements following the publication of independent reports on Child Poverty and Early Intervention and within the Early Years Foundation Stage and National Curriculum.

This motion has been signed by a total of 23 MPs.