Lib Dems earmark council money to help under 3's language skills

2.39.27pm GMT Wed 24th Feb 2010

Councillor David Ward will present the Liberal Democrat plans for education in the district at the up-coming Council's budget-setting meeting. He will highlight a proposal to improve children's' experience of language during their first three years of life.

"Every year since 2000, when Labour lost control of the Council, the Liberal Democrats have included new money in their budgets to make sure that education remains the council's top priority.

This year we have included a figure of £250,000 for pre school language development.

Research shows that from the age at which a child begins to speak until 3 years old, welfare parents addressed their children on average with 600 words per hour, working class parents addressed 1,200 words per hour and professional parents 2,000 per hour. The research shows that this hour-in, hour-out accumulation of communication experiences not only builds vocabulary but also has a profound impact on the physical development of the brain.

We want to examine the lessons we can learn from this research and how they can be applied to compensate some of our children for the education deprivation that occurs in the first three years in many homes in Bradford.

If we are to successfully break the link between deprivation and educational underachievement in Bradford we must be prepared to look at new ideas and international best practice. Something needs to change or things will stay the same."