New to Leadership? Start Here: The Hidden Factor Underpinning Progress, Behaviour and Attendance

Starting a new leadership role is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. There are countless priorities competing for your attention: curriculum, staffing, attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, Ofsted, staffing… the list goes on. Yet, one often-overlooked factor can quietly underpin progress across all these areas: speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

Recognising and addressing SLCN can transform your school culture and outcomes, sometimes faster than you might expect. And the good news? You don’t need to be an expert to start making a difference.

Why SLCN Matters Across the School

Children with unrecognised or unsupported SLCN can struggle in multiple areas:

• Progress: Limited language skills can mask gaps in understanding and slow academic attainment.

• Behaviour: For some students, frustration at not being able to express themselves can shows up as disruptive behaviour.

• Attendance: Children who find school communication-heavy may avoid it, leading to higher absence rates.

• Mental health: the links between SEMH and SLCN are huge and well-documented. Overwhelm, anxiety, frustration and physical outbursts are all commonly noted.

When leaders take the time to spot these hidden needs, they can introduce targeted support that improves outcomes school-wide.

Quick Wins for New Leaders

Even in your first term, you can influence SLCN awareness:

1. Set the tone from the top: Model clear communication in meetings and assemblies. Use a range of strategies and tools from chunking larger segments of spoken phrases to using gestures and pictures to support comprehension.

2. Ask the right questions: Include SLCN in data discussions, behaviour reviews, and attendance monitoring.

3. Spot patterns early: Look for repeated behaviour triggers, misunderstandings, or uneven attainment across cohorts.

These small changes help staff recognise that communication is a core part of learning and behaviour.

Using September Data to Your Advantage

Your first term provides a perfect lens into school-wide SLCN needs. Analyse:

• Reading and writing attainment gaps

• Behaviour incident reports by year group

• Attendance patterns

Even without formal assessments, trends in this data can highlight children who may need extra support.

Next Steps: Free SLCN Audit Tool

To make this easier, try the SLCN Audit Tool. This free, practical tool helps leaders quickly see where your school’s communication strengths and gaps lie. It only takes a few minutes to complete, and the insights you gain can guide your first leadership priorities.

👉 Take the SLCN Audit Tool now

I’m Beth Morrant, a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist from Essex, and I help school leaders enhance provision for pupils with speech, language & communication needs through tailored strategy and online staff training.