1. LANGUAGE LINK:
An online screen of receptive language for children on arrival at school – A comparison of United Kingdom data against data from one Australian state
Danielle Le Rossignol and Alison Henty (Dept. of Education, TASMANIA)
Julia Ritchie and Pete Mc Leod (Language Link, UK)

2. Introduction/Disclaimer
This research was initiated in response to Kinder screen data from Learning Services (North) which identified high percentages of children requiring follow-up assessment by SLPs
This research reflects only one area of a range that are being investigated by, and tracked through, assessments by the Tasmanian Department of Education (DoE)
Conclusions are drawn without reference to other banks of data being collected by the Dept. of Education

3. Background
The Department of Education, Tasmania is divided into four learning services based on geographical factors:
Learning Services – North [LS (N)]
Learning Services – North West
Learning Services – South
Learning Services – South East

4. Background

5. Background
LS (North) covers the northern part of Tasmania – “63” area code
Approximately 16,900 students in Kinder to Grade 10 (44 Primary/District High)
Language Link has been used with 16 schools within Learning Services (North) [LS (N)] over the past two years

6. Background
Communication skills of all Kindergarten children within LS (North) have been screened over the past two years (approximately 1200 students per year)
Kinder students are enrolled in DOE schools
Approximately 50% of these children have been identified as requiring follow-up assessment by speech-language pathology (18.2% for language)

7. Background
Language Link was therefore seen as a useful adjunct to Kinder screening in supporting teachers/schools with early identification of those students needing referral and/or support for receptive language difficulties

8. Language Link Data – LS (North)
16 schools and a total of 662 students (347 boys and 323 girls) (ESL students removed from the data due to small numbers)
Schools represent a mix of socioeconomic groups (ENI) (12 = low need, 108 = high need)
Tasmanian Mean 50.26
LS (North) Mean 52.60
Sample Mean 52.76

9. Language Link Data – LS (North)
85% of these children were identified as falling into the ‘age appropriate’ group
9.6% ‘support needed’ group
5.4% ‘discuss with SLT/refer to SLP’ group

10. Language Link Data – LS (North)

11. Language Link Data – LS (North)

12. Language Link Data – UK 10 887 students (5479 boys and 5408 girls)
Schools represent a mix of socioeconomic groups
89.2% ‘age appropriate’ group
7.7% ‘support needed’ group
3.1% ‘discuss with SLT/refer to SLP’ group

13. Language Link – UK Data

14. Language Link – UK Data

15. LS (North) - Boys

16. LS (North) - Boys

17. Language Link – UK Data (Boys)

18. Language Link – UK Data (Boys)

19. LS (North) - Girls

20. LS (North) - Girls

21. Language Link – UK Data (Girls)

22. Language Link – UK Data (Girls)

23. Discussion
Similar patterns of difficulty across LS (North) and UK data
General pattern – LS (North) students performed better on earlier sections and UK children performed better on the later sections

24. Discussion
LS (North): three main areas of difficulty (not necessarily statistically significant)
Cause-Effect
Basic Concepts
Pronouns

25. Discussion
Implications for academic development and literacy attainment
Consideration of receptive language issues from Language Link and Kinder screen data
Teacher feedback and KDC

26. Discussion Test/Re-test Issues Teacher Training
Spread of SLP Kinder screen results

27. Summary
Incidence of receptive language difficulties as measured by Language Link within LS (North) is similar to that identified from UK data
Three main areas of difficulty for LS (North) data: basic concepts, cause-effect and pronouns

28. Summary
Follow–up retest data for students who do not pass Language Link at start of Kinder
Comparisons with ESL data not possible for LS (North) due to small numbers (8 out of 670 students)

29. Next Steps
Continue to compare Language Link data with Kinder screen data
Monitor students in Prep for literacy issues
Seeking funding for Language Link as a universal screening tool for all students within Learning Services (North)

30. Contacts Danielle Le Rossignol
Alison Henty
Julia Ritchie

31. Bibliography
Bercow, J. (2008). The Bercow Report: A review of services for young children and young people (0-19) with speech, language and communication needs. Nottingham: DCSF
Law, J., Boyle, J., Harris, F., Harkness, A., & Nye, C. (1998) Screening for speech and language delay: A systematic review of the literature. Health and Technology Assessment, 2, 1-184
Law, J., Garrett, Z., & Nye,C. (2004). The efficacy of treatment for children with developmental speech and language delay/disorder. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 47,
Ritchie, J., Patterson, D., & Mc Leod, P. (2008). Language Link Trainer’s Manual: Issue 5 (online): Speech Link: Multimedia Limited United Kingdom
Webb, G. (2003). A sharing profession. Australian Communication Quarterly, 5(2),76-78.