The Sound Start Plan
An exciting opportunity to create a world first and achieve lasting gains in the lives of our youngest citizens …
Two BBC digital radio formats are proposed for closure [6 Music and the Asian Network] at an annual saving of £21m plus.
The BBC Trust has criticised BBC children’s radio provision and called for ‘practical partnerships’ to help reduce a deficit of up to £235 million.
Response to the BBC Trust’s Review from the Sound Start Group
Dear Sir Michael,
Public Service Children’s Radio
We thank you and the Trustees for the opportunity to respond to this further consultation on future BBC services. We do so with an updated version of the Sound Start partnership proposal that was put forward in 2008 and 2009, and which would now capitalise on the proposed closure of either the Asian Network or 6 Music in 2011.
The BBC discriminates…against young listeners
In 2001 Auntie passed up the chance of a DAB network for children in favour of limited output on adult speech stations R4 and R7 where research indicated kids wouldn’t listen.
The last children’s half hour on R4 was axed in June and their slots on R7 are about to be moved around yet again.
Children’s radio: a vital medium
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists Bulletin, July 2009)
Broadcaster and campaigner Susan Stranks says a new public service radio network for young listeners is necessary to support a Sound Start in life for children
Sir Jim Rose’s Primary Curriculum Review exposes ‘word poverty’ and limited language development in UK children and last year’s Bercow Report on speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) tells a similar story.
