City Research Online

Abstract

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 5–14 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 per cent 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.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 Sage. This is the accepted manuscript of an article published by Sage. Please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions for information on re-use.
Publisher Keywords:	Children in care, speech, language and communication needs, out-of-home-care placement, maltreatment, educational outcomes, social-emotional outcomes
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Allied Health
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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