Speech Language and Communication Needs and Educational Outcomes in Children in Care: A Secondary Data Analysis

Children in care have been shown to be at a higher risk of speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN). However, the presence of several co-occurring adversities means that SLCNs in this group are often overlooked. Improving understanding of SLCN vulnerability among children in care is therefore important for informing targeted interventions and supporting more positive educational and psychosocial outcomes. In our study, we examined the prevalence of SLCN among children in care and its association with educational attainment and social–emotional development as recorded in routine practice. A secondary analysis was conducted using routinely collected data recorded in a local authority database in an inner-city borough in South-East England. The eligible cohort comprised 141 children aged 5 to 14 years living in out-of-home care, of whom 78 had language screening data available. Measures included educational attainment in English, mathematics, and science, alongside social–emotional and behavioural functioning assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Forty-one percent of the sample presented with SLCN. Difficulties were evident across several domains, including word-finding, initiating and maintaining conversations, and peer relationships. Analyses revealed meaningful associations between SLCN, lower educational attainment, and poorer social–emotional outcomes. These findings provide preliminary group-level evidence of the higher prevalence and complexity of SLCN among children in care and their associations with educational and social–emotional outcomes. These results highlight the need for coordinated clinical, educational, and policy responses. These include improved recognition of multifaceted SLCN and timely referral to speech and language therapy services, to support more equitable outcomes for children in care.