Work can be done to develop speech

A children's charity has warned that nursery staff need more resources and training to spot youngsters with speech difficulties.

I CAN works to help children with speech and language difficulties learn to communicate.

About 10% of children in the UK have problems learning to speak.

But the charity claims that despite the large numbers not all children are able to get the help they need.

It is launching a campaign to raise awareness of the problem, and to help nursery staff to detect when a child is not developing speech skills as expected.

Progress

Victoria Upston, project manager with I CAN, said more needs to be done.

"Recent research has shown that staff who work with pre-school children - teachers, nursery nurses, people who run play groups, child minders - all feel that they don't have enough information about this specific area of development," she said.

Rachel Woods, 4, attends one of I CAN's two Scottish speech therapy units in Dalkieth.

Information packs are being sent to schools

Rachel understands what is being said to her, but has difficulty finding the words to reply.

Her mother, Jill, said Rachel's progress has been remarkable.

"I notice it myself, the family are beginning to notice it as well, especially her grandparents," she said.

"They were a bit concerned that they couldn't understand Rachel and that she couldn't tell them what she wanted, and I think they are gradually noticing a difference."

I CAN will also be sending 10,000 free training packs to pre-school workers across the country as part of their awareness campaign.