At Rushey Green Primary School in Lewisham, London, four- and five-year-old children are gathered in a circle on the carpet, eagerly describing pictures. As they enthusiastically engage in the activity, it’s hard to imagine that these children are part of a larger project designed to tackle youth violence, including gang involvement.
These young pupils, all of whom arrived at school with significant language delays, are taking part in a program funded by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), which seeks to address the root causes of violence, including knife crime. This initiative aims to help children improve their communication skills, which research shows is a key factor in preventing school exclusions and involvement in criminal activity.
The importance of language skills in early childhood cannot be overstated. Children who struggle with speech and communication are more likely to face difficulties throughout their school years. They are at a greater risk of being excluded from school, where they may be more vulnerable to exploitation and criminal behavior. Studies indicate that two-thirds of children at risk of exclusion in secondary school have unidentified speech and language difficulties, and 60% of young people in the youth justice system also face similar challenges. Furthermore, communication problems are disproportionately found in the prison population.
The VRU, created in 2019, follows the model of a similar initiative in Glasgow that significantly reduced violent crime by treating it as a public health issue. The unit brings together community stakeholders such as police, educators, health professionals, and youth workers to address the root causes of violence. Today, nearly 90% of London’s boroughs have signed on to the VRU’s Inclusive Education Charter, which aims to reduce school exclusions and keep young people in a safe learning environment.
Lib Peck, Director of the VRU, emphasizes the value of early intervention. She explains, “We know that kids are safer in school, and we know the ones who are most likely to be excluded, so it makes sense to intervene right at the beginning.”
Rushey Green was one of 70 schools to receive funding from the VRU, which provided training for teachers and resources to help children who were falling behind in their language development. The school’s reception class is currently practicing how to talk about daily routines, using sequencing words like “first,” “next,” and “last” as they describe morning activities.
Headteacher Lisa Williams explains that many of the children in the class have not been exposed to structured routines at home. For some, a parent may juggle multiple jobs, leaving little time for the predictable rituals that support language development. “We have a lot of parents with two or three jobs,” she says. “The routine of bath, storytime, and sleep can be impossible.” For some families, even basic needs like hot water are out of reach.
Many children at Rushey Green start school with limited language skills, with over half of the reception class struggling to communicate effectively. Williams explains that without the ability to express themselves, young children often struggle with social interactions, such as making friends or navigating conflicts. Without language, they resort to physical expressions of frustration, which can lead to problems in school and beyond.
Recent data from the VRU’s oracy intervention program shows promising results. Of the children who completed the program last year, 98% narrowed the gap in communication skills, with 60% meeting expected vocabulary standards. Moreover, the program has led to a significant reduction in physical aggression among the students. According to Lily Bearfoot, a reception teacher at Rushey Green, there’s been a noticeable improvement in how children handle conflict. “Sometimes you see a situation that looks like it will really go wrong, but then they resolve it themselves,” she says, adding that she’s proud of them for using words to resolve issues rather than resorting to violence.
Bearfoot and her colleagues are particularly concerned about the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which further hindered language development in children. Many of the children in her class, referred to as “COVID babies,” missed out on early social interactions due to lockdowns, exacerbating their communication difficulties. The school recognizes that these issues are often tied to poverty and the erosion of public services, which has made it harder for parents to provide a nurturing language environment.
Despite these challenges, teachers like Bearfoot are committed to giving every child the best start possible. She shares that the school sends home word games to help children practice their language skills with their families. Some parents, many of whom speak English as a second language, have learned alongside their children, and the games have been an invaluable resource. “Parents are really grateful,” she says.
In addition to the word games, Rushey Green arranges playdates for children to practice their social skills in a supportive environment. Recognizing that many families are struggling to make ends meet, the school offers these playdates free of charge, even providing snacks to ensure that children can fully participate. “If a mum is just managing to afford one meal a day, she doesn’t want to worry about feeding another child,” says Williams.
The school also takes children on trips to help broaden their vocabulary and exposure to new experiences. Many students have never been to a museum or traveled on a train, experiences that are often taken for granted by children from more affluent families. By offering these opportunities, Rushey Green aims to level the playing field for all students.
Ultimately, the school’s goal is to ensure that every child has the language skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Williams notes, “The statistics about the literacy levels of young offenders are real. Improving speech and language is a foundation for everything.”
By helping young children develop their communication skills early on, Rushey Green Primary is playing a crucial role in breaking the cycle of violence and providing a brighter future for children in Lewisham.
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