Schools should ‘teach children to speak’

 One in seven parents believes that schools should teach children how to speak, a government survey has found.

The belief that teachers or childminders are responsible for toddlers learning to talk was more widespread among low-income families, according to a poll commissioned by the Department for Education (DFE).

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of parents who earn under £20,000 a year felt that teaching children up to the age of five to speak was not their responsibility.

This compared to 16 per cent of families earning up to £44,999 a year and just six per cent of those earning £45,000 and over.

The questions were asked as part of the Dfe’s annual childcare and early years survey of parents which officials use to inform policies.

Ministers have previously said that children being sent to school unable to speak in sentences is a “persistent scandal”.