There are concerns over the impact of Covid-19 on children's spoken language skills.
The Education Review Office research shows more than two-thirds of parents report their child had language difficulties before they started school last year.
It found a similar number of teachers blame the lockdown period for its impact.
New Shoots Children's Centre director Kelly Seaburg told Ryan Bridge it's the result of multiple factors in the last few years.
She says children were more isolated, with parents trying to work from home, so teacher and peer interaction reduced.
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