Are Health and Education talking to each other? Perceptions of parents of children with speech and language needs

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a multi-centre, year-long study commissioned in July 1999 by the Department for Education and Employment (DfEE), Department of Health (DOH) and the National Assembly for Wales; the focus here is upon the perspectives of parents of children with a variety of speech and language needs, at various stages of assessment and provision within educational settings. Groups of parents were interviewed about their perceptions of the extent and nature of collaboration existing between the agents of health and education, and during the final ‘research into practice’ stage of the study, parents joined managers and practitioners from the two agencies in discussion groups aimed at generating innovative and practical ideas for facilitating future collaboration between the two agencies. Emphasizing their wish for a partnership relationship with professionals, some parents highlighted professionals' failure at times to communicate effectively with them. They perceived a lack of transparency in the process of assessment and provision, voicing concerns about continuity of provision, particularly at the stage of transition from primary to secondary education. In a context of insufficiently defined professional roles, some parents lacked confidence in a move towards a consultative model of speech and language therapy; they suggested a need for greater mutual understanding between teachers and speech and language therapists to provide a more secure basis for implementing therapy effectively.

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