Funding boost for speech and language services

Wiltshire Council has agreed to invest £2.2m into speech and language services

Speech and language therapy services in Wiltshire schools and early years settings are set to receive a boost in funding.

More than £2.2m will be invested into Wiltshire Council's services over the next two years to address a growing demand and provide assistance for those with communication difficulties.

Councillor Jane Davies said that the council was dealing with "increasing numbers of cases", which have gone up by 1,058 between 2020 and 2023.

"This investment ensures that children and young people... can access support when and where they need it most," she said.

Davies added: "Families and children deserve a service that meets their needs without requiring them to retell their story repeatedly.

"This commitment reflects our dedication to providing the right services at the right time."

The council intends to commission a service separately from the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board to ensure a greater level of oversight and clarity, said Davies.

Key objectives include recruiting a qualified speech and language leader to address children's needs at the earliest opportunity, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.