Reflection on my career development
I have always been certain that I would love to work with children, however it took me a long time to work out what exact career path I would like to take. I have recently discovered that I would love to work as a Child Speech and Language Therapist, since it blends my profound commitment to positively impacting children and their families, with my passion for working with children. Numerous reasons have contributed to my decision to pursue a career in Child Speech and Language Therapy, however the primary cause being that I had recently completed some voluntary work at the NHS Speech and Language department, whilst volunteering within this sector, I discovered that Speech and Language was a subject that really interested me.
There have been many different actions which I have personally taken in order to hopefully ensure employability upon graduation. These activities include volunteering, going to career fairs, and researching different post-graduate positions and occupations to see what I can do to improve my employability and have the best chance of landing my dream job. After discovering my interest in this sector, I looked into the requirements I would have to meet in order to work in the field of Child Speech and Language Therapy. I discovered that according to the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists 2024, there are two options that would be fitting for me, I could complete a two year fast track postgraduate course in Speech and Language therapy or complete an apprenticeship in Speech and Language therapy- if you already have a relevant degree it may be shorter and you may also be able to get a masters qualification as part of the apprenticeship, which would be a great option. (Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, 2024)
I have also considered other career paths that interest me, in case I decide against pursuing a career within Speech and Language. The next career path I would consider is a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator within a Primary School, this often comes hand in hand with a Primary School Teacher. This is an additional reason I chose to complete my placement at a primary school: to obtain experience in this industry, make sure I work well within the setting, and maybe pursue a career in this profession. Whilst i was working within the Primary School i worked especially closely with a few children who have complex special educational needs, i found this extremely rewarding and gratifying. There was one child in particular who I worked closely with who was unsure what they were capable of and seeing them achieve what felt unachievable to them was incredibly rewarding. Obtaining a Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) postgraduate degree is necessary for me to teach in primary schools in England. It is a legal requirement for teaching in many English schools and is considered desirable for teachers in the majority of schools in England (GOV,2024).
GOV. (2024). Routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for teachers and those with teaching experience outside the UK. GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-qualified-teacher-status-qts-if-you-teach-outside-the-uk/routes-to-qualified-teacher-status-qts-for-teachers-and-those-with-teaching-experience-outside-the-uk
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists 2024. (2024). Speech and Language Therapy University Courses. RCSLT. https://www.rcslt.org/speech-and-language-therapy/become-a-speech-and-language-therapist/university-degrees/