A student studying at laptop.

Key details

Start date(s)
September 2026
Study Mode
Part-time (1 year)
Location
Main Campus (Horsforth)
School
Education and Childhood

Our Advanced Practice in Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) programme has been designed specifically for practitioners supporting children and young people with SLCN in educational settings and third-sector organisations. The practice-based learning on this course aims to deliver high-impact change in meeting the needs of the education and applied sector workforce when working with children, young people, and families who have additional speech, language, and communication needs.

The Student Contract

About this course

This programme is highly innovative and allows you to gain credit for work-based learning. This allows professionals who work full-time, in settings such as schools or NHS Speech and Language Therapy Assistants, working in settings in the community, to access a vocational, work-related and practice-based course.

This unique course focuses on developing your practice in a setting to meet the often-complex needs of children who have barriers to their speech, language and communication which stops them from making progress educationally, socially and emotionally.

This course does NOT qualify you to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist. For more information about this, see the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists website.

You will:

  • Develop an advanced level of understanding and knowledge about speech, language and communication development and challenges in children and young people, including the barriers that children may face accessing educational provision.
  • Develop the skills, expertise and abilities to proficiently assess and identify speech, language and communication needs at targeted and some specialist levels. Ths will include the ability to use various tools, assessments and approaches to undertake this process in a detailed manner.
  • Develop advanced knowledge and understanding of a range of support strategies, environmental adaptations and interventions to support speech, language and communication needs in educational settings. 
  • Be able to critically appraise your own professional, interpersonal and inclusive practice in your setting’s provision in SLCN. This will include action planning for enhancements in your current provisions.
  • Develop your ability to critically appraise and evaluate information and evidence-based practice, enhancing academic skills, professional and academic uses of your learning.

You'll also develop expertise in understanding national and local policies/recommendations related to SLCN and be able to progress in becoming a leader in this area of SEND. This will enable you to deliver high-quality SLCN provision in your setting and 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. While this programme does not qualify you to practice as a Speech and Language Therapist, it will provide you with an excellent foundation for learning in this area. It would also greatly support any application for further studies in Speech and Language Therapy or related careers, such as Advisory Specialist SLCN Teacher.

collaboration with logo.

Developed in partnership with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust Children's Speech and Language Therapy 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.

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-after skills, knowledge and understanding at the forefront of our sector linked to current sector needs.
Student studying in AKLC.

What our students say

“It has been the best course I have ever been on in terms of making a difference to the outcomes for children I support at school.”

 

“I have really enjoyed the course and feel it has enhanced me with new skills and confidence to implement more in school to help others understand how important SLCN is."

 

 

“I found all elements of the course valuable and it has significantly improved my practices and that of my setting.”

 

 

“The course has exceeded my expectations."

Course modules

You will study a variety of modules across your programme of study. The module details given below are subject to change and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.

Year 1

You will study the following modules throughout your programme.

Understanding Speech, Language and Communication Development in Children and Young People – Core

This module will cover typical speech, language and communication development in addition to neurodivergent developmental presentations. You'll develop a range of skills which will support your developing practice in understanding the differences and challenges in the speech, language and communication that children and young people may experience, as well as the impact of these on the children, young people, their families and their long-term life outcomes. Case study evidence where presenting challenges in behaviour and dysregulation are linked to unidentified speech, language, and communication needs will be examined. You'll also be introduced to relevant policies and legislation and examine how speech, language, and communication needs fit within these frameworks.

Identification and Assessment of Speech, Language and Communication Needs within Educational Settings – Core

You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of the identification and assessment of a range of speech, language and communication differences and needs in children from early years to further education. The knowledge and understanding of the impact that these speech, language, and communication differences have on children and young people’s social, emotional and educational outcomes will also be developed. A range of age-appropriate screening and informal assessment approaches will be introduced. You'll be able to identify when to make a referral to specialist services (i.e., Speech and Language Therapy, Specialist Teachers) and how to complete a good quality referral. Your skills and capabilities in communicating identified needs and impacts on the children and young people’s long-term outcomes, with a range of stakeholders in a professional capacity in their setting will increase.

Developing Provision for Speech, Language and Communication Needs for Children and Young People – Core

You'll develop your knowledge and understanding of a range of strategies, environmental adaptations and interventions to support speech, language and communication needs in educational settings. This will include various whole school, whole class, small group and individualised speech, language, and communication support approaches from early years onwards. Reflective practice skills will be developed in implementing, reviewing and adapting support provisions and provision maps, as appropriate, based on research findings and evidence-based practice. 

Timetable

This is the module timetable for September 2026 entry, please be aware that this may be subject to change.

Module 1 - Understanding Speech, Language and Communication Development in Children and Young People
Date Session Delivery Time
Saturday 26 September 2026 Module 1 introduction LTU On-site TBC 9:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday 6 October 2026 Teaching session 1 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 20 October 2026 Teaching session 2 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 10 November 2026 Teaching session 3 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 24 November 2026 Group tutorial Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
December 2026 Individual tutorial Online 15 minutes One-to-one
Tuesday 12 January 2027 Study support tutorial Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Module 1 assignment submission date: Tuesday 23 February 2027
Module 2 - Identification and Assessment of Speech, Language and Communication Needs within Educational Settings
Date Session Delivery Time
Saturday 6 March 2027 Module 2 introduction LTU onsite TBC 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday 9 March 2027 Teaching session 1 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 16 March 2027 Teaching session 2 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 20 April 2027 Teaching session 3 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 27 April 2027 Group tutorial Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
March - April 2027 Individual tutorial  Online 15 minutes One-to-one
Tuesday 18 May 2027 Study support session Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Module 2 assignment submission date: Tuesday 8 June 2027
Module 3 - Developing Provision for Speech, Language and Communication Needs for Children and Young People
Date Session Delivery Time
Saturday 12 June 2027 Module 3 introduction LTU onsite TBC 9:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday 15 June 2027 Teaching session 1 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 22 June 2027 Teaching session 2 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 29 June 2027 Teaching session 3 Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Tuesday 6 July 2027 Group tutorial Online  4:00pm - 7:00pm
July - August 2027 Individual tutorial Online 15 minutes One-to-one
Tuesday 20 July 2027 Study support session Online 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Module 3 assignment submission date: Tuesday 7 September 2027

Learning and teaching

The focus of this course is to develop your practice in SLCN. You will complete one portfolio per module. The tasks within these modules will be made up of a variety of tasks linked to work in your setting with children, young people, families and colleagues.

Learning and teaching

At Leeds Trinity we aim to provide an excellent student experience and provide you with the tools and support to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional potential.

Our Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategy delivers excellence by providing the framework for:

  • high quality teaching
  • an engaging and inclusive approach to learning, assessment and achievement
  • a clear structure through which you progress in your academic studies, your personal development and towards professional-level employment or further study.

We have a strong reputation for developing student employability, supporting your development towards graduate employment, with relevant skills embedded throughout your programme of study.

We endeavour to develop curiosity, confidence, courage, ambition and aspiration in all students through the key themes in our Learning and Teaching Strategy:

  • Student Involvement and Engagement
  • Inclusion
  • Integrated Programme and Assessment Experience
  • Digital Literacy and Skills
  • Employability and Enterprise

To help you achieve your potential we emphasise learning as a collaborative process, with a range of student-led and real-world activities. This approach ensures that you fully engage in shaping your own learning, developing your critical thinking and reflective skills so that you can identify your own strengths and weaknesses, and use the extensive learning support system we offer to shape your own development.

We believe the secret to great learning and teaching is simple: it is about creating an inclusive learning experience that allows all students to thrive through:

  • Personalised support
  • Expert lecturers
  • Strong connections with employers
  • An international outlook
  • Understanding how to use tools and technology to support learning and development

Entry requirements

Leeds Trinity University is committed to recruiting students with talent and potential and who we feel will benefit greatly from their academic and non-academic experiences here. We treat every application on its own merits; we value highly the experience you illustrate in your personal statement.

The following information is designed to give you a general overview of the qualifications we accept. If you are taking qualifications that are not included below, please contact our Admissions Office who will be happy to advise you.

  • An Honours degree (minimum 2.2)

Alternatively, we will consider applicants who have equivalent work-based experience/relevant CPD portfolio. This will include:

  • A detailed reference from your employer giving information about your role in a setting.
  • A detailed CV showing expertise in education and/or SEND.
  • A letter of support from yourself explaining how your expertise would allow you to access the course.

You will need a letter of support from your workplace to agree to support the work in the work-based portfolios. An interview, if necessary, may take place.

This course is only open to students who already have the right to live and study in the UK.

Fees and finance

Funding

UK Home Students:

For information about our tuition fees please visit our Student Fees and Finance pages.

You can contact the Finance Office to discuss tuition fees and payment plans on 0113 283 7311 or at finance@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

 

How to apply

Attend one of our online PG Cert Advanced Practice in Speech, Language and Communication Needs information sessions. During the session, you'll have the opportunity to learn more about the programme and chat with our academic team, who will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Webinar dates:

Date Time
Friday 20 March 12:00pm
Thursday 7 May 3:30pm
Friday 12 June 12:00pm

Book your session

This course is not available to students on a Student Route Visa.

There is no official closing date for applications, but the course will be closed when it is full. We therefore encourage you to make your application as early as possible.

Please ensure you complete the application form in full and supply all the required supporting documentation when you make your initial application. Incomplete applications may be rejected.

If you need advice on your application, please contact our admissions team on 0113 283 7123 (Monday to Thursday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, or Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm) or admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk

What happens next?

Our admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application by email. Where applications are submitted but references are still in progress, admissions will wait for the reference(s) to be received and then will process it, and forward to the relevant Programme Leader within five days of receipt of the reference(s).

The Programme Leader will make a decision based on your application. You may be asked to provide a reference to demonstrate your academic and non-academic experiences, or you may be invited to attend an interview. If you are successful and made an offer, the conditions will be outlined in your offer letter. 

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days. Applicants will be contacted within 15 working days with a request for additional information, an invitation to an informal interview or an application decision.

Made an offer?

You should accept or decline your offer by emailing admissions@leedstrinity.ac.uk.

If you accept, you'll need to prove you satisfy the conditions outlined in your offer letter.

You may be asked to present the relevant supporting documentation in person to the student information point on campus - if originals are not needed, you’ll be contacted and given details of how to provide the supporting documentation.

Are you working as a SENCO in a school, early years setting, college or alternative educational setting? 

Leeds Trinity University is part of a partnership delivering the NPQ for SENCO. The course addresses all the needs of a professional who is or wishes to develop a career in supporting and developing SEND provision. You will meet colleagues and develop professional networks with both practitioners and leaders in the field of SEN. 

Gaining an NPQ for SENCO will help to strengthen the existing expertise of individuals working in appropriate settings whilst enhancing their skills and confidence in this area. Find out more about the NPQ SENCO here.