WORCESTER is one of only two areas in the Midlands with an I CAN centre of excellence for children with speech, language and communication difficulties (SLCD).

Dan Kendrick takes a look at how the system helps youngsters come out of their shells.

THE I CAN early years centre based at Cranham Primary School, in Tetbury Drive, has been up-and-running for five years.

In that time, its staff has helped transform many shy and frustrated youngsters into the confident and bubbly schoolchildren that were hidden behind their communication problems.

I CAN centres were set up around the UK to help pre-school children move into mainstream education and learn alongside their peers.

Children receive support, either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, through a programme of specialist therapy and education, which is delivered under one roof.

And the Warndon centre proved a "godsend" to Sabrina Squires, whose five-year-old daughter Shannon had attended a city nursery for more than two years before her SLCDs were identified.

In her case, Shannon was late to develop her speech - still struggling at the age of four - meaning she had to effectively be retrained to communicate.

"As a parent, it's heartbreaking to see your child frustrated and isolated, not able to convey their thoughts and feelings," said Mrs Squires, who lives in Norton, near Worcester.

"When Shannon's problems first became apparent I found it very difficult to get information, but the health visitor was absolutely fantastic. She put me in touch with I CAN and the difference in Shannon was amazing."

Mrs Squires, originally from California, in America, said that once the problem had been identified Worcestershire's SLCD education provision was fantastic.

"We don't have health visitors for children in the US so it was great that I had that support to put me in touch with the centre in the first place.

"Shannon had three two-hour sessions a week for about a year and moved into a nursery - Little Hoots in Bath Road, St Peter's - that continued teaching her in the way she learnt at the centre.

"She became so much more confident and the change was just wonderful.

"At one time Shannon was about a year-and-a-half behind other children her age, and now, at the age of five-and-a-half, she is in mainstream education. The whole experience of I CAN was great."

Each I CAN Early Years Centre works to raise awareness of SLCDs with parents, professionals, nurseries and other organisations working with children in their region.

Worcester's centre, which is funded by the LEA and health trust:

n Uses speech and language therapists and teaching staff working together to deliver communication therapy and a pre-school curriculum, in a nursery environment.

n Works with parents to further assist the children's development.

n Delivers "outreach" services so children in nearby nurseries can benefit from the centre.

n Influences services throughout Worcestershire by offering models of best practice that other pre-schools can mimic.

In Worcester, the centre divides its group of 24 youngsters into three groups or classes - the first being the youngest, the second those needing speech therapy and finally those with more complex communication difficulties.

And the staff of four were thrilled to have their position as a centre of excellence renewed this summer.

"We were recognised as a centre of excellence in July 2002 and we were recently inspected and had our status confirmed," said Debbie Carter, nursery teacher and centre manager.

"If children know they speak differently from their friends, or other children their age, very often they go into their shell and don't take part.

"It's all about building the children's confidence and when they can see that they are not alone they really blossom.

"By putting them in groups together they really come out of themselves and once they gain confidence they really enjoy themselves. Our results have been good and every single child who has come here has loved it."

The staff at the Tetbury Drive centre, which also includes Anita Findlay, a nursery nurse, Anthea Williams and Kath Pringle, both speech therapists, work closely with a range of SLCD professionals who continue work with the children after they leave.

"Worcester is very lucky to have a centre where this sort of special education takes place because the next closest is Stoke-on-Trent," said Mrs Carter.

The I CAN centre at Cranham Primary School is holding an open day in late November. Anyone interested in finding out more is invited to contact the organisation by phone on 01905 452508.