The British Stammering Association warmly welcomes the launch of the Stammering Information Programme, produced by the Michael Palin Centre and funded by the DCSF. The announcement of extra funding to secure an appropriate home for the Michael Palin Centre, a Centre that is unique worldwide, and for a second specialist centre in the North of England, make this a great day for children in England who are affected by stammering.

Stammering, while low incidence, is a high need condition as identified by the Bercow Review. Like all communication disabilities, it has low priority in teachers' education and training. In many cases, teachers aren't even able to identify the children in their class who stammer. And yet, there are few other conditions which impact on a child's education to such an extent as a speech, language and communication need like stammering. This is why the DVDs produced by the Michael Palin Centre are so crucial - they raise awareness by giving children who stammer a voice, speaking directly to their teachers.

It is to this Government's great credit that they recognised that good communication skills are THE crucial life skills for the British economy in the 21st Century. Both Secretaries of State Alan Johnson and Ed Balls started this process with the Bercow Review.

It is true that Ed Balls has personal experience of stammering in his youth, but if anything I believe it has strengthened his conviction that every child with SLCN, whether they stammer or have other needs, needs extra help and support if they are to thrive and succeed at school.

In my almost twenty years of working in this field, I have never seen this level of support for all children with speech, language and communication needs from any previous government of any political colour.

Norbert Lieckfeldt
Chief Executive, BSA

Dated: 20th October, 2009

News article
External link: DCSF press release