Health Minister Zane DeSilva called for parents to take part in free language screenings organised by Government.Stressing the importance of language on all aspects of education, he said: “Language provides the foundation for learning the academic curriculum.“Every subject, mathematics, social studies science, has it’s own set of vocabulary, concepts and ideas. If we cannot access the rules and ‘codes’ for spelling and reading to access these subjects, learning can be a struggle.”The Ministry of Health is calling for parents who plan to enter their children into a government preschool this autumn, to take part in the free screenings, which run until July 15.“Like a doctor’s check up, the screening provides information about the child’s abilities, to help decide if there are concerns and whether or not to pursue further evaluation and support,” Mr DeSilva said. “If therapy is required, the screening process allows the Speech Pathologist to initiate intervention services seamlessly so that issues are addressed early in the school year, possibly reducing or preventing a negative impact on a child’s classroom success.”To book an appointment for a Speech and Language Screening, contact Susan Price Barrett on 278-6429.