Ed Balls, Schools Secretary, has announced the appointment of Jean Gross as England’s first “communication champion”.

The creation of this new role was a recommendation in the 2008 Bercow Report on services for children with speech, language and communication, and forms part of the government’s Better Communication action plan developed in response to the review.

Independent of government, the communication champion will be responsible for promoting speech, language and communication for children across England among commissioners, service providers, the children’s workforce and the wider public.