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Written question asked by Caroline Voaden (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 23 April 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 (named day). It was answered by Georgia Gould (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Special Educational Needs: Developmental Language Disorder

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she will take to ensure children with Developmental Language Disorder are adequately supported following upcoming reforms to the SEND system.

Answer

The department’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms are ensuring every child gets the right support at the right time. This includes all of those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). We regularly engage with organisations who represent children with SLCN, including DLD, such as Speech and Language UK who are a member of our Complex Needs Group.

​Speech and language therapists (SaLTs) break down communication barriers, but too often, children and young people with SEND wait too long for this support.

​As part of our new £1.8 billion investment, schools will be able to access support from professionals such as SaLTs through the Experts at Hand offer. They will work directly with school staff to equip them with skills and strategies to better meet need.

​We are also investing £15 million to establish new SaLT advanced practitioners in every integrated care board area to support more SaLTs to work with educational settings, upskill speech and language support workers, and promote the SaLT apprenticeship route.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
129630
Session
2024-26
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Special educational needs Developmental language disorder
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk