School children who speak English poorly

sir – Camilla Turner (“Children starting school unable to talk properly”, September 5) identifies one of the most important issues in enabling future generations to compete with robots in the workplace.

Twenty years ago, I did studies in the Midlands which found that children entering school there were at least two years behind their age in language and thinking development.

Strategies to raise levels were taken up strongly by high-achieving countries. There has been less interest in language for learning in Britain, with standard English marginalised as elitist. Studies also show that the most difficult problem for children is understanding teachers who may speak unfamiliar dialects.

There are schools with more than 230 different languages spoken in the area where I live, and we do not require those coming to live in the UK to speak English. I have come across families who have lived here for many years who cannot speak our language.

Recently, I attended a conference for heads of companies, who, when asked to come up with issues affecting workplace performance, all topped the list with communication and relationships. It is time to listen to those who have been advocating greater attention to spoken language as the key to success. Professor Rosemary Sage

West Haddon, Northamptonshire

sir – To improve young children’s speech, prams and pushchairs should be made so that the child faces the pusher. The pusher should revert to the traditional habit of addressing the child, not constantly speaking into a mobile, letting the child hear only an incomprehensible one-sided conversation. Erica Barrett

Hastings, East Sussex