SecEd podcast on SLCN transitions

SecEd’s 25 March podcast says Year 7 pupils with hidden speech, language and communication needs can struggle as soon as they hit key stage 3. (sec-ed.co.uk) The episode is titled *The SecEd Podcast: Communication needs in the year 7 classroom* and runs 1 hour 13 minutes. SecEd says it offers practical tips on supporting communication as pupils make the step up to secondary study. (sec-ed.co.uk) The panel includes a speech and language therapist and discusses pupils who struggle with communication, including oracy and vocabulary. The episode description says the move into Year 7 brings increasingly complex language and vocabulary demands. (ivoox.com) (sec-ed.co.uk) Speech, language and communication needs means difficulties with talking, listening and understanding language. Afasic says around 10% of children starting school have SLCN, or about two to three children in every classroom. (afasic.org.uk) SecEd has framed the Year 7 issue as one of missed identification. A March 2024 article said many pupils arrive in Year 7 with unidentified speech, language and communication needs, and that spotting them gets harder as children get older. (sec-ed.co.uk) A February 2025 SecEd article went further, saying nearly half of secondary pupils with speech, language and communication needs are going unidentified. The same piece said many pupils have learned to mask their difficulties by the time they reach Year 7. (sec-ed.co.uk) SecEd has returned to the topic repeatedly. It published a broader podcast on speech, language and communication needs in secondary school on 2 July 2025 and earlier transition-focused episodes on 19 May 2021 and 1 June 2022. (sec-ed.co.uk 1) (sec-ed.co.uk 2) (sec-ed.co.uk 3) The through-line in the new episode is that Year 7 communication problems are often hidden, not absent. SecEd’s argument is that schools need to notice them early, before the language load of secondary lessons exposes them. (sec-ed.co.uk 1) (sec-ed.co.uk 2)