Ninestiles Academy raises awareness of developmental language disorder

A Birmingham secondary school has brought pupils, families and speech and language specialists together to raise awareness of a condition that affects around one in 14 people but often goes unnoticed.

Ninestiles Academy in Acocks Green, part of the Summit Learning Trust, held the event to mark Developmental Language Disorder Day. It gave families the chance to share their experiences and learn more about supporting children with language difficulties.

A hidden condition

Developmental language disorder, known as DLD, is a lifelong condition that affects a person's ability to understand and use language. It can affect communication, learning, friendships and everyday life, but is not always obvious to others. With around two children in every class of 30 likely to have it, campaigners say it is far more common than many people realise, and is often mistaken for poor behaviour or a lack of effort.

The event was attended by Jess Phillips, the MP for Birmingham Yardley, along with school leaders, teaching assistants, parents and carers and the school's speech and language therapy team.

Plasticine and pencils

The afternoon began with an interactive presentation from speech and language specialists, including a quiz on how DLD affects everyday life. Parents and carers then had time to talk to one another about the challenges and successes of raising children with the condition.

The teaching assistant Asiyah Aftab led a practical activity based on the Word Aware approach, a way of teaching vocabulary used in many schools, using plasticine and pencils to explore ways of building children's vocabulary and language skills.

Pupils then joined the session to talk about the strategies that help them communicate, learn and feel confident. Personalised activities gave them a chance to celebrate their strengths, explain what they need and talk about what they are proud of.

The event reflected this year's DLD Day theme, Together for DLD, which highlights the importance of working together to create a more inclusive world for people with the condition.

"Every child deserves to feel understood"

Alex Hughes, the principal of Ninestiles, said: "Every child deserves to feel understood, valued and able to reach their full potential. For learners with developmental language disorder, having the right support in place and being surrounded by people who understand their needs can make a real difference, both in the classroom and beyond."

"Bringing our learners, families and speech and language specialists together has been a valuable opportunity to share experiences, celebrate the strengths of our children and learn from one another," he said. "We know that working in partnership with families is essential to ensuring our support reflects each child as an individual."

The event came in the same week that Birmingham's plan to reform support for children with special educational needs and disabilities was considered by the city council's cabinet. The plan includes giving schools earlier access to specialist advice, so that children's needs can be spotted and supported sooner.

Parents who are worried about a child's speech or understanding of language can speak to their child's school, health visitor or GP, who can refer them to speech and language therapy services.