![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/child-speech-delays-increase-due-to-lockdowns/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/127317331_lewiscloseup.jpg&description=Image caption, Seven-year-old Lewis is growing in confidence and can now hold a conversation after attending his school's speech hubThe number of five and six year olds who need speech and language support at school has risen by 10% in England over the past year, BBC analysis shows.The increase, which is substantially greater than previous years, is partly due to lockdown limiting social interactions, experts say. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists says the profession is struggling to cope with the demand.The government says it is investing £180m in early years development.The BBC's Shared Data Unit's analysis found that the number of children in Year 1 who needed help with their language use increased more than most other areas of special educational needs. A total of 42,341 children required extra support in 2021/22, up from 38,560 in 2020/21. This is the year group who started reception after the first lockdown and had considerable disruption to their early years learning.Previous rises in speech and language needs have been put down to larger student numbers and better detection in schools but the latest increase is much bigger. Your device may not support this visualisation Charity Speech and Language UK told the BBC that Covid restrictions affected some children's development by limiting socialising and new experiences, which helps them learn new words.At Northwood Community Primary School in Knowsley, Merseyside, there is a higher number of children experiencing language issues than previous years. Out of 500 pupils, around 80 now require extra support. When Lewis, who is seven, first arrived, his teachers noticed he was withdrawn, finding it hard to make friends, and struggling to express himself. "You couldn't hold a full conversation with Lewis," his mum Christine Williams explains."He would point for a cup because he was too nervous to tell me what he wanted in case I didn't understand. It was a real struggle."Christine said it was partic){kind=link}
The number of five and six year olds who need speech and language support at school has risen by 10% in England over the past year, BBC analysis shows.
The increase, which is substantially greater than previous years, is partly due to lockdown limiting social interactions, experts say.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists says the profession is struggling to cope with the demand.
The government says it is investing £180m in early years development.
The BBC’s Shared Data Unit’s analysis found that the number of children in Year 1 who needed help with their language use increased more than most other areas of special educational needs.