COUNCILLORS have expressed their concern at the lack of speech and language therapists in Redbridge.

They fear the staffing problem will cause children to suffer unless urgent action is taken by both the council and Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority.

A petition signed by about 50 people demanding action be taken immediately to resolve the situation was handed in at Thursday's council meeting by cllr Simon Green,

Cllr Maureen Hoskins said: "There is a specialist language unit at Churchfields School in South Woodford. This particular unit deals with children with the most severe speech and language difficulties. We must ensure that priority is given to make sure that is fully staffed."

And cllr Sue Nolan said: "One child at Churchfields School has had 13 different speech and language therapists in the past year. Make no mistake, every day that passes is damaging for these children."

The problem has now reached crisis point for many children and their parents. The head of speech and language therapy services resigned earlier this year, and the two therapy coordinators left in the summer.

Parents with children attending Churchfields School raised their concerns in the Guardian (October 25), claiming that children with special educational needs were suffering.

Redbridge Council's cabinet member for education and lifelong learning cllr Richard Newcombe told councillors that a new department head had been appointed to take up the post in the new year, and that the health authority had put measures in place which would improve the situation.

He said: "The principle responsibility for providing speech and language therapy is with the health authority.

"I am concerned and officers are very concerned over the situation and I believe that the LEA is taking a strong position in encouraging the PCT to take their responsibility to providing therapists in Redbridge.

"But I can see the health authority is putting on a significant amount of pressure to try to turn things around.

"Interim support measures in schools are being created through the £50,000 allocated in education budget."

He added: "The health authority is willing to meet parents to discuss the issues in a public meeting. They have Information will be sent out to schools and parents."

Redbridge Primary Care Trust chief executive Tom Easterling said: "The problems that the speech and language therapy service is experiencing will take some time to resolve.

"The PCT is committed to addressing the short-term shortages and to establishing the service for the future."