More help with language skills for young children

The three-year pilot was run in five different educational settings

Speech and language therapy will be offered to children following a charity's trial.

Every Child Our Future (ECOF) ran a three-year pilot in Jersey which it said had proved early intervention improved pupils' language skills.

ECOF said the pilot had seen an increase from under 50% to 90% of children achieving age-appropriate language levels after two academic years in one of the five educational settings it was trialled in.

Education minister Rob Ward said investment from the government would help ensure "every child, regardless of their language profile and start in life, has the support they need to thrive".

ECOF chief executive Cris Lakeman said: "We've shown that most children's needs can be met through quality teaching and early identification, but only if staff are properly supported."

Language skills were critical to a child's ability to communicate, self-regulate and build relationships, she added.

Julie McAllister, a government teaching and learning adviser for early years, said: "Expanding this model across early years settings will improve communication, language and literacy opportunities and outcomes for all young children."