A record number of school pupils are now facing speech and language difficulties, according to research.
The latest report by charity Speech and Language UK finds that at least 1.9 million primary and secondary school pupils are estimated to be behind with talking and understanding words compared with just under 1.7 million in September last year.
This equates to 20 per cent of all pupils in the UK - the highest number ever recorded, states the charity’s report Listening to unheard children.
The report also highlights that just 53 per cent of teachers surveyed feel they have sufficient training to support pupils' speech and language in the classroom.
