Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES)
SCALES is the first United Kingdom (UK) population study of language development and disorder at school entry and involves more than 180 schools across Surrey, UK. This study was initially established to determine the extent to which 'Specific' Language Impairment (SLI) was prevalent in a population (as opposed to clinically ascertained) sample at school entry and the impact of language impairment on other aspects of development, and how these patterns of development change over time. Over 7,000 children who started reception class in state-maintained schools in Surrey in 2011 participated in the baseline self-administered questionnaire. All children were aged between 4 years, 9 months, and 5 years, 10 months at the time of assessment, in the summer (3rd) term of school. Screening data were obtained between May and July 2012.
Study design
Cohort - birth
Number of participants at first data collection
7,267 (participants)
Age at first data collection
4 - 5 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
2006 - 2007 (participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
The full range of language and communication abilities in children of the age group selected.
Sample features
Countries
Year of first data collection
2012
Primary Institutions
University College London (UCL)
Links
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
University of Surrey
Wellcome Trust
Ongoing?
No
Data types collected
- Computer, paper or task testing (e.g. cognitive testing, theory of mind doll task, attention computer tasks)
- Self-report questionnaire – online
- Creative, arts-based and visual methods
- None
- None
Engagement
Keywords
