Level 4 Award in Supporting Children & Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)

Registrations for the new course starting in February 2025 are now open!

Read on for more information about the course or click to book now

This is such a worthwhile, informative and well supported SLCN course. I would
thoroughly recommend it.
— Teacher, Secondary School

Research suggests that in some areas 50% of children start school with a speech, language and communication need (SLCN) and that approximately 10% go on to have a long-term SLCN. A focus on ‘talk in the classroom’ therefore can have a profound impact on children and young people’s learning and social interaction. (Communication Trust 2019).

The Level 4 Award in Supporting Children and Young People with SLCN is designed to give participants confidence in how to deliver effective support for children and young people with SLCN.

On successful completion, participants will gain a Level 4 Award in Supporting children and young people with SLCN and 6 Level 4 credits from Gateway Qualifications.

It is suitable for professionals working in a teaching or support role in a school or setting and is open to those in all phases of education: early years, primary, secondary or post-16.

  • How is the qualification delivered?

    The qualification is delivered twice a year, with a cohort starting in the Spring (1st February) and the Autumn (1st October). The course duration is six months.

    The qualification will take approximately 60 hours of study to complete. This will include guided and non-guided study hours, where participants will engage with the course materials and complete assessment tasks.

    The course materials can be accessed by laptop/tablet/phone. The course materials are available to access on the Learning Platform. Logins will be issued prior to the start date.

    The qualification can be accessed via the Group 152 pathway or via a blended* pathway if there is a partnership in the local area.

    *To check which pathway is available in the local area, click to register and choose the local area from the drop-down menu.

  • What support do participants receive on the Group 152 and blended pathways?

    On the Group 152 pathway, participants will have access to:

    • 7 podcasts linked to the course themes outlined in the course content below

    • 6 x 1-hour facilitated group study sessions linked to the themes outlined in the course content below, delivered via our virtual classroom (dates are listed in the purple box below and attendance is optional)

    • Assessment task feedback from a Learning Outcome Assessor, who is assigned to work with participants on strengthening the evidence submitted. Learning Outcome Assessors will correspond with participants via the Learning Platform

    • Email correspondence with the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND) Team (available during working hours)

    *To find out about the support available on the blended pathway in the local area, click to register and choose your local area from the drop-down menu.

  • What is covered in the course content?

    Several themes are explored in the course content.

    These are:

    • Theme 1: The roles and responsibilities of different professionals working in schools and settings to support children and young people with SLCN, including the participant’s role and how this contributes to the effectiveness of support

    • Theme 2: Typical speech language and communication development and an understanding of the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of a child or young person having SLCN

    • Theme 3: The impact of SLCN on learning and other areas of development

    • Theme 4: Techniques to engage children and young people with SLCN in the support process and provide opportunities to develop the necessary skills to do so

    • Theme 5: Identification of SLCN

    • Theme 6: Strategies for supporting children and young people with SLCN

    • Theme 7: Developing expertise

  • How is the qualification assessed?

    Participants will complete assessment tasks.

    A Learning Outcome Assessor will be allocated to each participant. Their role is to provide feedback on the participant’s submissions to help them to gain the knowledge and practical skills required and to strengthen the evidence provided. Learning Outcome Assessors will correspond with participants via the Learning Platform.

    Once the assessment tasks are complete, the work the participant has submitted will go through the Eastern Partnership UK (SEND)’s quality assurance process to check that the evidence meets the required standards.

  • What are the benefits for participants and for their school or setting?

    Successful completion of the qualification will:

    • Increase capacity of staff to better support children and young people with SLCN in the school or setting

    • Impact positively on practice and outcomes for children and young people with SLCN

    • Improve independent learning behaviours and self-regulation of children and young people with SLCN

    • Improve the engagement of children and young people with SLCN in the support process

  • What are the entry requirements?

    The course is open to those who are:

    • Working in a teaching or support role in a school or setting across any phase: early years, primary, secondary, or post-16

    • Keen to build a portfolio of Level 4 SEND related qualifications

    • Interested in speech language and communication or in supporting children and young people with SLCN

  • What is the cost of the qualification?

    The cost of the Group 152 pathway is £275+VAT

    *To find out the cost of the blended pathway in the local area, click to register and choose the local area from the drop-down menu.

  • Group 152 Facilitated Study Sessions for Autumn 2024 cohort

    In virtual classroom at 12.00p.m. - 1.00p.m. (attendance is optional):

    • Thurs 10th October 2024 (Theme 1)

    • Tues 12th November 2024 (Theme 2) - new date

    • Weds 4th December 2024 (Theme 3)

    • Tues 7th January 2025 (Theme 4)

    • Tues 4th February 2025 (Theme 5)

    • Mon 3rd March 2025 (Themes 6&7)

Register below for your place in the Spring cohort starting in February 2025

Group 152 Facilitated Study Sessions for Spring 2025 cohort

In virtual classroom at 12.00p.m. - 1.00p.m. (attendance is optional):

  • Theme 1: Tuesday 11th February 2025

  • Theme 2: Tuesday 11th March 2025

  • Theme 3: Tuesday 1st April 2025

  • Theme 4: Friday 2nd May 2025

  • Theme 5: Thursday 5th June 2025

  • Themes 6 & 7: Monday 30th June 2025