Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to develop guidance for youth offending teams on how best to (a) support and (b) meet the needs of young people with speech, language and communication needs; and if he will make a statement.

Young people with speech and language difficulties are particularly vulnerable, and we are seeking to ensure that those who work with children and young people with a high prevalence of speech, language and communication needs, are trained in recognising and responding appropriately to these needs. Over the last three years we have provided free, national training for Youth Justice professionals supporting them to identify children’s special educational and disability needs and deliver effective engagement and positive long-term outcomes.

Furthermore, in 2015, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) and Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) published joint practitioner guidance about how to identify children with speech, language and communication needs, how to communicate more effectively with them and how to make written information more accessible. The guidance can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/speech-language-and-communication-needs-in-the-youth-justice-system/practice-advice-speech-language-and-communication-needs-slcn-in-the-youth-justice-system.