A crisis in recruiting has left many Basildon and Thurrock youngsters with little or no speech and language therapy for the last year.

The therapy for children with special educational needs is provided by South Essex Mental Health and Community Care NHS Trust, with the local education authority topping up money required to employ staff.

At present, Basildon and Thurrock should have 15 full and part-time therapists working across the area, but four positions are now long-term vacancies, stretching staff to the limit.

A source close to Thurrock education authority said the authority was "fighting tooth and nail" to get more therapists, frustrated that the financial means are available but not the staff.

Some children, who should have two hours speech and language therapy a week, have had none in the last year, the source claimed.

South Essex Mental Health and Community Care NHS Trust said there has been difficulty in attracting appropriately qualified therapists nationally, and has embarked on a number of initiatives to recruit staff.

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