15th September 2026
Eighty additional primary schools across Oxfordshire will for the first time take part in a scheme that helps improve children's language and communication development and deliver targeted interventions.
They will be doing so alongside over 40 existing schools who already benefit from the GL Assessments Wellcomm speech and language programme, ensuring support is available early, when it is needed most.
The Oxfordshire ‘Out Loud’ Wellcomm programme is a £90,000 investment by Oxfordshire County Council, through its new SEND reform budget for the academic year 2026-27. It is set to benefit all pupils, not just those who have special educational needs and disabilities.
Councillor Sean Gaul, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “This investment will make a significant difference at the right time in a child's education. The initiative enables schools to screen children's language and communication development and deliver targeted interventions, with resources available for everyday classroom teaching.”
By understanding where children may be facing language and communication differences and having a measurable baseline at an early stage, schools can provide practical and specific help quickly, with the aim of preventing these needs becoming a barrier to learning.
Schools in the Oxfordshire ‘Out Loud’ programme will have access to guidance from the council’s specialist advisory teachers and Oxford Health’s speech and language therapists to support using the screening tool and to build on language and communication support within their classrooms. This means children receive help when needs are identified instead of waiting for referrals to specialist services.
Over 2,200 children in 44 schools were screened between March 2025 and March 2026. Following intervention and specific teaching approaches, there was an increase of nearly 30 per cent of pupils screening at expected levels compared to their initial screening scores. This positive progress is crucial in supporting children’s language and communication skills in Oxfordshire.
In addition to the Wellcomm investment, Oxford Health has delivered a major waiting list recovery programme within its speech and language therapy service. Between September 2024 and August 2026, the number of children and young people waiting reduced from 2,890 to 1,214. Over the same period, the number waiting more than a year reduced from 1,408 to 149, representing an almost 90 per cent reduction in long waits.
Mark Chambers, Head of Children’s Community Services, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The earlier we can identify and support speech, language and communication needs, the better the outcomes for children and young people.
“This expansion is a positive step forward for Oxfordshire, bringing together schools, the council and NHS services to ensure more children receive the right support at the right time.
“We are proud to play our part in helping children develop the communication skills that are so important for learning and life.”
Oxfordshire ‘Out Loud’ builds on the proven success of Oxfordshire's early years advisory team, which has used the WellComm toolkit to support speech, language and communication development since 2021.
The early years advisory team has rolled out the WellComm toolkit to all private, voluntary and independent settings and school based nurseries across the county, alongside a comprehensive training and support programme.
This has enabled practitioners to confidently identify children's language needs early, implement targeted support strategies and improve outcomes for children, including those with English as an additional language.
There are plans to make the programme available in all primary schools across the county by 2030, with future opportunities to explore support for secondary aged pupils as well.
Further information is available by emailing: [email protected]
