9 October 2025
The updated guidance has been made specifically for education providers with pre-registration programmes to help support the provision of training and the careers of future SLTs
As part of the RCSLT’s commitment to ensuring all NQPs in speech and language therapy are receiving the best quality education to prepare themselves for working life, we’re pleased to announce an update of our guidance on curriculum setting, placements and the accreditation process. Created through NHSE funding, these updates will ensure that the skills students are taught will prepare them for the modern workforce and HCPC registration.
The changes to this guidance will have a ripple effect on the profession as a whole – ensuring that students and SLTs working with students during placements have clear guidelines around expectations while learning, thereby improving patient care and safety and supporting the profession to shape the careers of future SLTs.
The guidance has been created alongside RCSLT members, with a scoping survey and workshops taking place as well as a consultation on the draft and we will be consulting with our working groups to agree any future directions on this area.
The new guidance includes an update to the curriculum guidance, practice based learning placements information, framework and updated accreditation guidance.
Where can I find the new guidance?
We have brought together the guidance in one area of the RCSLT website, for ease of access. Information on apprenticeships, telehealth and how to reaccredit your pre-registration programme periodically can all be found on these pages.
Changes in the new guidance include:
- mandatory placement hours and EDS placement expectations for practice based learning
- clarity around clinically based and non-clinically based placements
- information on equity, diversity and belonging principles
- a link to the RCSLT’s position statement on sustainability
- further guidance on staffing and resourcing of SLT programmes and expectations of learner attendance and participation
- using learner outcomes and scope of clinical practice to allow flexible programme design
- new guidance on simulation
All course providers looking for new accreditation or reaccreditation by RCSLT will need to meet these new guidelines to meet accreditation standards. More information about the rollout of these expectations will be sent directly to education providers with current RCSLT accredited programmes. All current education providers and HEIs offering a course or apprenticeship in speech and language therapy will need to submit a new audit form.
