A fifth of toddlers in Blackburn with Darwen can’t communicate properly, new figures show.

Office for Health Improvement and Disparities figures show 370 of 456 children aged between two and two-and-a-half in Blackburn with Darwen met the expected ability for communication in the three months to March.

It meant 86 children (18.9 per cent) did not have normal communication skills for their age.

The figures also show 3.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent of children in Blackburn with Darwen did not have the expected gross and fine motor skills respectively for their age.

Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements, such as sitting and crawling, while fine motor skills involve smaller muscles and include movements such as holding, grasping, or drawing.

Meanwhile, 6.6 per cent did not reach the normal standard for social skills, and 6.1 per cent fell short in problem-solving.

Michelle Holt, Head of Service for School Effectiveness and SEND at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “Due to the Covid pandemic, we are now seeing the impact on the cohort of children that were born at the beginning of lockdown.

“The figures clearly show that the prime area of learning (communication and language; personal social and emotional development and physical development – EYFS) have been affected most as these are the essential skills that babies need in early child development. 

 “Actions are now in place to narrow this gap in learning and improve outcomes for under five’s through a variety of different programmes and initiatives.

“These include the opening of four Family Hubs to target families and young children and support with the home learning environment; the development and roll out of a multi-agency Speech and Language Framework; and the changes to the Early Years SEND support.

“Our commissioned health visitor service have also rolled out the Early language and Intervention Measure (ELIM) to identify children needing support at an earlier age with speech and communication.

“We are also working with colleagues at LSCFT to introduce a systematic change through the introduction of the Balanced Model, in conjunction with colleagues from the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Commissioning Board, to improve pathways to speech and language therapy.  

“We are hoping that more families take up the two-year offer and new government incentive in relation to funding to ensure that children access quality education in their early years to improve outcomes at five and improve the data stated above.”

Across England, 14 per cent of children failed to meet the expected communication standard, however there was great variation in development from area to area.

In Ealing and Barnet in London - the worst areas in the country - around four in five children did not have sufficient communication skills, while at the other end of the scale in Kingston-upon-Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, no child fell short.

Action for Children said it is essential children "lay the right foundations" during the first few years of their life.

Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at the charity, said the regional disparity is "deeply worrying", with children in certain areas falling behind.

He added: "Where you grow up shouldn’t affect your life chances. If we want to give children the best start in life, early years services for parents are vital.

"The Government has invested in family hubs for around half of all local authorities in England. It must ensure that all preschool children and their families, in all areas, can access the support they need."

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