Course summary

Our Advanced Practice in Speech Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) programme has been designed to meet the needs of the education and applied sector workforce working with children, young people and families who have additional needs in Speech Language and Communication Needs. Developed in partnership with the Leeds NHS speech and language service, this programme aims to enable you to transform your setting’s response and develop provision to meet the ever-changing needs and the challenges of all in education who have SLCN. This programme is highly innovative and allows you to gain credit for work-based learning allowing professionals who work full-time in settings such as schools or NHS speech language assistants who work in settings in the community, to access a vocational, work-related and practice-based course. You will study three modules: One will focus on the actual speech and language difficulties that children and young people may present with in a setting. The second will focus on assessment and identification tools and approaches to assess need in SLCN. The third will help you to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to develop both whole-setting provision and interventions to support SLCN. You will also have a personal tutor who will support you in developing three work-based portfolios linked to your own setting’s needs. You'll develop expertise in developing early interventions in SLCN and will be able to progress in becoming a leader in this area of SEND. This may help you deliver high-quality interventions in your setting or lead on this aspect of SEND across your setting. This would be useful for those wanting to progress in the SEND workforce in nurseries, schools, and colleges. For example, SENCo’s, SEN leads, aspirant SENCo’s, early years leads, key stage leads in primary schools, school leadership, Higher Level Teaching Assistants and teaching assistants and staff working in Alternative Provision or local authority educational services. Those wanting to develop a career in Speech and Language Therapy as aspirant therapists, or assistants would also find this course very useful in supporting their career progression. Why study with us? Personalise your continued professional development in education via this 60-credit award while working full-time and gain credit for work-based practice. Develop highly desirable skills to develop your current work-based provision. Become highly employable in the education sector due to having highly sought skills, knowledge and understanding at the forefront of our sector linked to current sector needs.