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 Stockton-on-Tees.

In Stockton-on-Tees the number of children needing support for speech, language and communication in Year 1 dropped from 153 in 2015/16 to 151 in 2021/22.

The number of children needing support for speech, language and communication in Year 1 in 2021/22 rose by 2.03% compared to the previous academic year. This is below the the national rise of 9.81%. The authority ranks 9 in the region out of 12 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