Speech and Language therapy training

[Kew1]

Hello, I would like to retrain as a speech and language therapist.

I have a personal interest in this area having recently had my son diagnosed autism. We have come across some brilliant SLTs and OTs on this journey and I would like to give back after a corporate career and subsequent break to have children). I know a little bit about the field as my mum worked closely with SLTs and I have friends who are OTs and work in psychology.

I don't however yet have any work experience but am in the process of setting some up.

I have a few questions -

Do any SLTs know where the best courses are or are they all similar - I have seen the MSc at Reading. Anyone know how competitive the two year course is, they are asking for someone with a lot of work experience already?

Also, do you know if late applications are considered? I am going to miss the 31st Dec deadline for Reading (even if they would take me on the basis of getting work experience sorted), so that would then be me STARTING to retrain in almost two years -Sept 2023! I am already 44 - eek!

Finally, does anyone know if the Govt training fund (£5 k per year) is available regardless of your means/income? Some websites seem to suggest it is whereas another says you need to be eligible for a maintenance payment at uni to receive the training fund. I actually emailed the NHS dept which administers the fund and didn't get a clear answer.

Many thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Hi Op I trained well over twenty years ago, course funding has changed over the years so I can't advise on that. I'd suggest you contact the admissions team for the university you are applying to re late applications, again in my day a university would consider your application without going through UCAS, especially if you already had a degree in a related field and work experience (I had been working in a special school for a year before applying) but I'm guessing that might have changed now. It wasn't that competitive when I applied but has become much more so over the years.
In terms of universities the courses are all much of a muchness. Generally if doing the MSc it's easier if you already have a degree in psychology/ linguistics or medical science.
Getting placements can be tricky as SaLTs are very over stretched (as are most AHP)
Being in your 40s is no barrier to training, and my course had equal number of mature students to college leavers; this is (or was) pretty standard.

It is a very academic course, and very full on, you may well be expected to travel a significant distance for placements (2-3 hours away) if you stay over, you'll be expected to fund your own accommodation and obviously getting to and from your placements will be your responsibility. Don't expect any allowances to be made for having DC.... it might have changed, but one ofthe students on my course had no choice but to drop out, as it was impossible for her to get the child care needed when she was on placement (such a waste of a potentially brilliant SaLT).

Thank you so much for your response crazysaltlady. Very helpful. That’s a concern regarding the placements. Childcare wouldn’t be an issue for the odd day but I couldn’t spend weeks on end staying away from home. I’ll add this to my list of questions to ask the department at Reading.

It’s good to know I wouldn’t be considered over the hill to embark on the course either. I’m up for a challenge and was always academic but have to admit I dropped the maths after GCSE so I know some of the science side - whilst I now find it fascinating, unlike when I was at school - will be difficult for my ‘languages’ brain!

It’s very, very full on as said - I’m about 3/4 through my training but it’s taken me a long time to get there, and expensive as hell . It’s a brilliant course though, and a good mix of ages and backgrounds - tends to attract a diverse crowd which is lovely, and the lecturers are fantastic IME .

I got in on work experience (NHS) - if they were coming direct from school they needed sciences and maths at A level/higher, I have maths but not a science so wouldn’t have gotten in .

Twitter has a great community (#slt2b is one) .

We had to do two full (7-7) placement days a week for ten weeks, which is a lot - expected to travel 30 miles to get there but a few colleague were travelling in excess of 50 .

The languages side is great - although I will always get muddled up with pragmatics - but yes there’s a lot of maths involved, we have to do statistics modules which isn’t easy at all . The anatomy and physiology is quite confusing too at times . Also have to be able to understand (at least where I’m studying anyway), speech acoustics which involves complex measurements - need to be quite tech savvy too .

It’s well worth it if you can though just for the sheer variety and scope of work you can do once qualified - can work with anyone, babies up to adults, stroke to psychiatry, there’s an increasing role in prisons too . Fantastic career if you can make it work !!

20 years qualified here too so well out of the loop in some ways, but I have students every year so am experienced in those matters. I would definitely recommend getting relevant experience as it's a competitive course with usually more demand than capacity. Volunteering across adults and paeds would give you good scope.

I'm more familiar with the undergrad than the masters but placements are intense. No guarantees of getting a local placement either so be prepared to travel.

Good luck OP

Thanks everyone, really helpful. Healthanxietyhell - have you had any Govt help with the funding? As you’re currently on the course did you get this 5k training fund and if not do you kind me asking why? I can’t work out if it’s means tested or not and the NHS helpline won’t be clear. As if you have to apply before finding out - but knowing if I’m eligible will be a v important factor! I’m assuming the tuition fees can be covered with a loan which I may or may not have to repay depending on how much I earn several years after qualifying?

I think I will use this year to build up work experience and try for an assistant position if I can - hopefully giving me a strong application by this time next year for a course starting in September 2023. Will also give a chance to know if it’s definitely for me.

hi OP did you end up studying this course then