Children who experience difficulties in learning because of speech and language impairment (SLI) represent one of the largest groups of learners with educational difficulties. Research into SLI (also called language and communication difficulties, specific language impairment, language difficulties, disorder or disability) has mainly been undertaken in the disciplines of medicine, psychology and applied linguistics. This seminar series reviews findings concerning SLI in these fields, together with research in education on language learning. Participants will aim to develop a new educational perspective of SLI, with new theoretical understandings, research methodologies and teaching and learning practice for researchers and practitioners involved with this group of learners. The seminars bring together academic researchers, practitioner-researchers, policy-makers and members of professional and charitable bodies in the different fields of child language disability who do not normally meet together. Outcomes of the series will be a web-based discussion group, a research agenda for SLI in education, and publications for researchers and practitioners.

The seminar themes are:

• developing an educational perspective of SLI
• research methodologies for assessment of SLI in educational contexts
• approaches to researching curriculum teaching and learning with SLI learners
• inter-professional learning with professionals working with learners with SLI.

The series ran from October 2004 to January 2006.

Seminar 1: Evaluative comment