Meet the team: Speech and Language Therapy at Treloar’s 

What’s it like to work in Speech and Language Therapy at Treloar's? 

Sally Mosley, Head of Speech and Language Therapy, says:  

"Working as an SLT at Treloar's is never boring! One of the best things about working here is the sheer variety of the job: we start our day already knowing we will be doing a lot of different things then often, as the day goes on, new things crop up. Working with students with so many different needs makes our work really interesting. We have students who are beginning to learn about the power of communication, who are learning how to make choices and how to speak up for themselves. Many of our students are also learning how to communicate using alternative communication methods such as paper-based symbols and communication devices. We help students to find the best ways to communicate their needs and wants. We also work with students who are learning how to make bigger decisions about their lives, developing their confidence to self-advocate as they are becoming adults and preparing to move out into the world." 

Helping students to understand how they can use their voice, whether this is using non-verbal communication, speech, alternative communication methods or a combination is really rewarding. But this process can often take a long time, and one of the other big benefits of working as an SLT at Treloar's is that you have the time to see the progress students make as they develop their skills and confidence over their school and college years. You also get to work with others and understand each student’s needs in a holistic way. 

Another very important role for SLTs at Treloar’s is in assessing and advising on students’ eating, drinking and swallowing, to enable each person to have a safe, effective and enjoyable experience and to be supported to make their own decisions around their eating and drinking needs.

Collaboration with students and their families 

Working as a Speech and Language Therapist at Treloar's requires a close collaboration with students, their families and the multi-disciplinary team that supports them.  

Caroline Casula, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, says: 

"Fundamentally, what we do here is help our students make connections with other people and help them understand what's important to them, what they need in order to thrive and how to advocate for this. This can look very different depending on the student and they can have varying priorities. Working directly with students like we do here is quite unusual and you often get to work with them for years and years so you see them develop and grow.”

Jacqui Swaby, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, says:

"I'm just a small cog in a very big engine, but without those small cogs, you wouldn't be able to run efficiently. So, for example, me creating a communication book enables students to say exactly what they want to say. Working here is very rewarding—everything that you do is helping students here." 

Tailored support for each student’s needs

Students who come to Treloar's have a very diverse range of needs, including their communication and eating, drinking and swallowing needs. This means that students’ support needs and level of independence can vary significantly. Some students may be developing their abilities to communicate their everyday wants and needs, and are learning how to do this with high levels of support during a range of different experiences. 

Jodie Tatlow, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist who works primarily with students following the Interactive and Sensory curriculum, says:  

"Our priority is to support students in achieving their maximum potential for communication through their time at Treloar's, and to work out what this looks like for each student." 

Develop your expertise in a career where communication changes lives 

As an SLT at Treloar's, there are many opportunities to develop through training and supervision, attending courses, working with experienced therapy staff and learning from a wide range of other skilled staff across our multidisciplinary teams.

Claire Atkinson, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, says: 

 "By working at Treloar's you get to develop the interests that you have as a speech and language therapist, particularly around augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and different methods of communication. Practising speech and language therapy at Treloar's is different to other places that I have worked because we are on site all week which helps us build very good relationships with the students and with the teams who work around them. We also build good working relationships with the families and we get to see those small steps of progress and celebrate them with everybody. As SLTs we have a huge impact on our students' lives and education—communication is key." 

At Treloar's, Speech and Language Therapy plays a vital role in helping students access learning, build relationships and express themselves with confidence. In a specialist environment like Treloar's, speech and language therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team, and support staff to create a consistent and personalised approach to communication. By being fully integrated within the school and college community, SLTs can celebrate every step of progress alongside students, their families  and the teams around them, ensuring that communication remains at the heart of education, independence and well-being. 

What the best thing about working at Treloar’s?

Eloise Cordery, Speech and Language Therapy Assistant, adds:

"The best thing about working at Treloar's is the students. I love coming to work every day and working with such amazing young people. It feels like a family - I'm surrounded by people who are very supportive. It is a unique and positive environment — I have been here for five years and never looked back."