Analysing the impact of the pandemic on children’s speech development

Children entering school in the year after the first lockdown are showing a big increase in speech, language and communication (SLC) needs, according to analysis of DfE data. Find out how the numbers changed in Dorset.

In Dorset the number of children needing support for speech, language and communication in Year 1 rose from 299 in 2015/16 to 341 in 2021/22.

The number of children needing support for speech, language and communication in Year 1 in 2021/22 rose by 14.05% compared to the previous academic year. This is higher than the national rise of 9.81%. The authority ranks 9 in the region out of 17 authorities.

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Chart: numbers of year 1 children needing speech and communication support

Explore the data: year-on-year change since 2016

Chart: year-on-year change in children needing speech and communication support