HC Deb 12 December 1978 vol 960 cc213-5
6. Mr. Edwin Wainwright

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are qualified to give remedial lessons to children who are suffering from various forms of speaking difficulties in the junior and secondary schools, respectively, in each of the education authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.

Miss Margaret Jackson

There is at present no requirement for teachers who work with pupils suffering from impairment of speech to possess an additional qualification. The needs of these children are usually met jointly by teachers and speech therapists.

The report of the Warnock committee, which is now the subject of widespread consultation in the education service and elsewhere, recommends specialised initial and in-service training for teachers of pupils with various special educational needs.

Mr. Wainwright

When shall we treat the problem of children with speech difficulties with the seriousness that it deserves? Is my hon. Friend aware that the previous Government refused to accept Professor J. Tizard's report and that the impression throughout the country is that this Government are not taking the Warnock report seriously? When is my hon. Friend going to do something about it? Is it not society's duty to enable each child to benefit to his or her limits from the education system?

Miss Jackson

I certainly accept my hon. Friend's last contention. He is dealing with two different questions. Much work has been done for children with speech difficulties in the last year or so. More work has been done than before. There is an inspectorate's survey. A number of new schools and units are being opened to help children with those problems. More speech therapists are employed today than in the past. The work is continuing.

The Tizard report deals mainly with children who have dyslexia. The report argues that such an affliction does not exist. We are conducting consultations on the Warnock report and we hope to have replies to it by February. We hope to proceed with speed, but we are anxious not to take fundamental decisions too quickly.

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

Does the Under-Secretary of State admit that there are grave problems within our education system in dealing not only with young people with speech difficulties but with other handicapped groups including gifted children? Does she accept that too few teachers are able to identify the problems sufficiently early? Will the Government take steps to improve the education system and the identification of gifted young people and other handicapped children so that attention can be paid to them earlier?

Miss Jackson

The hon. Gentleman must acknowledge that we are now doing far more for children with all categories of handicap than in the past. We are also realising more and more clearly the difficulties of gifted children and we are seeking to help them. In all these areas a great deal of additional work is taking place. Courses are being made available by the Department and work is being undertaken by the inspectorate. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's contention that there is a great lack of provision or effort in the area to which he has drawn attention. I remind him that the fundamental point is made in the Warnock report that there is a continuum of difficulty and that it is not a good idea to single out children into specific groups and to try to teach them in those groups. That is what some who talk about gifted children seem sometimes to want.

Mr. Banks

Does the hon. Lady agree that a high proportion of children with speaking difficulties suffer those difficulties because of earlier undetected hearing problems? Will she instigate steps to ensure that pupils entering primary schools are given hearing tests?

Miss Jackson

I am aware that sometimes that is the position. The hon. Gentleman will probably know that the Warnock report recommends that at the earliest possible age before primary school there should be a proper system of assessment for every child to detect every degree of handicap.