Speech, Language and Communication Needs will provide you with the opportunity to practice and develop the key skills that will enable you to have a positive impact on the speech, language and communication needs of children in your setting. These skills will be rooted in an understanding of speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) and its relationship to learning and other areas of children and young people’s development.
You’ll build knowledge of the nature and range of SLCN and their potential impacts for children and young people and how needs may be identified, assessed and profiled.
You will leave this module with a tool-kit of ways in which SLCN can be effectively supported and how to do so in joint working within schools and with other agencies supporting SLCN.
Build a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of relevant SLCN and its relevance to pupils’ learning, social, emotional development and behaviour.
Understand the relationship between SLCN and other areas of SEND.
Critically evaluate the impact for pupils with SLCN at the learning, social, emotional and behavioural levels, with reference to current theory and evidence including their role, and the processes and methods used, in identifying, assessing and profiling a child or young person’s SLCN.
Critically evaluate a range of ways SLCN can be supported in the classroom and wider school context and analyse how their effectiveness may be evaluated including ways to fully engage those with SLCN in all aspects of their support.
Evaluate the factors contributing to effective inter-professional and inter-agency collaboration in relation to children with SLCN.
Select your study style and dates
Online – self paced
Study at your own pace and time
Info & dates
Cohorts begin in January, May and September.
The next cohort begins on 15 May 2025. Book and register before 15 May 2025 to join our next cohort.
This module will benefit you and your setting in a wide variety of ways. Over the duration of the course, you will:
Practice and develop the key skills that will enable you to have a positive impact on the speech, language and communication needs of children in your setting.
Get to grips with the key theories, research and policies and understand how to critique knowledge and existing practice effectively.
Gain confidence and experience in the skillsets that will enable you to identify, assess and profile needs.
Learn how SLCN can be supported effectively by nurturing each pupil’s voice and encouraging participation.
Develop professional collaboration by understanding local policy, roles, responsibilities and explore the complex relationship between the facilitation of best practice and the structure of services.
Attain 30 Masters level (Level 7) credits which you can put towards a PGCert, PGDip or Master of Education on any of our Masters programmes
Detailed content breakdown
Strand one: Speech, language, and communication in the learning context
Familiarise yourself with the theories and models of typical speech, language and communication development.
Develop your understanding of speech, language and communication skills, particularly how they develop and relate to the educational context.
The knowledge that you gain will underpin your exploration of speech, language and communication difficulties, the impact of these needs and their relationship to other areas of SEND.
Strand two: Identifying, profiling and assessing SLCN
Focus on developing processes to support the identification, assessment, and profiling of the needs of children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Identify pupils who may be struggling with speech, language, and communication.
Assess the nature and range of those needs using a combination of approaches and professionals.
Collate the information from a variety of sources to create a holistic profile of their strengths and needs – this will enable you to provide appropriate tailored support that assists in further monitoring.
Strand three: Maximising positive outcomes for learners and the setting
Consider the research and evidence on interventions and approaches to ensure good outcomes for those with SLCN.
Build upon activities already completed in strand two to form the content for your final assignment.
Produce a single presentation for your colleagues that will meet the requirements of both of your final assignments.
How is the course delivered?
Our courses are delivered through Campus Online, our unique provision for online learning.
Campus Online allows you to study at your own pace, without the need to travel, or commit to particular dates or times. Log in to access your study materials, contact your personal tutor for support, connect and network with other delegates and make use of the extensive resource library.
You can easily track your progress throughout the course and submit your work and evidence of assignments for feedback.
How will you be assessed?
Your assessments will consist of the following:
Self evaluation questionnaires for you to check your knowledge and understanding throughout the module
Three assessed tasks
Critical analysis 1: (3,000 words): Critically evaluate the role of speech, language and communication development within the educational context.
Critical analysis 2: (1,500 words): A critical analysis of SLCN within the school context.
Practice analysis: (1,500 words): A critique of local policy and practice in joint working with pupils with SLCN.
Where indicated by your tutor, you may submit multimedia resources that you have produced within your applied practice as part of your final portfolio of evidence.
Are you eligible?
You will need an undergraduate degree to take this module.
You will need to be working in an educational setting for this module. If you aren’t currently working in an educational setting you will need written permission from a senior member of staff to regularly access a setting.
Are you based in an international setting?
This course is available online and can therefore be completed anywhere in the world. Please click here for advice on payment options and other information relevant to those studying outside of the UK.
Choose a start date that suits you
Cohorts begin in January, May and September.
The next cohort begins on 15 May 2025. Book and register before 15 May 2025 to join our next cohort.
How much does the course cost?
We offer a flexible range of fees to suit your finances:
A one-off payment of £1,525 + VAT
Three instalments of £533 + VAT
Ten instalments of £165 + VAT
For further information please visit the payment FAQ page found here.
We do understand, however, that circumstances can arise that could prevent the course being completed in this time period. If this is the case, an extension can be arranged in conjunction with the admin team and your tutor.
Success stories
Kirsty Ann GibsonKirsty, is a Primary School Teacher at an International School in Hong Kong. Since completing the Speech, Language and Communication Needs course, she feels more confident in identifying and supporting students with SLCN and sharing her knowledge with other teachersDorthe AllenSEN consultant Dorthe particularly enjoyed the EBSCO library access, assignments and course resources that were available as part of her Real Training course. She found them to be always relevant and provided a good springboard for further research…
“This [course] has made a huge impact on our provision as we look at the needs very differently now and we can understand and decipher the needs of the child much more confidently.”
Lisa Bowles, Head of School
Module leader
Janet Stevens Module Leader Speech & Language Therapist
Janet is an experienced Speech and Language Therapist. She has worked with many children experiencing a range of SEND, where SLCN is frequently a presenting factor.
She has a specific interest and specialist training in Dysfluency, Paediatric Voice Disorders and Working with English as an Additional Language (EAL). Janet has many years of experience working alongside and training teachers and SENCOs in Hampshire.
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