HC Deb 23 February 1961 vol 635 cc771-2
17. Mr. Boyden

asked the Minister of Education how many places are available in the 1961–62 one-year supplementary courses for the teaching of handicapped children, namely, those who are backward, educationally sub-normal, or physically handicapped; and what percentage these places will form of the total number of teachers in this form of specialised work who have received no specialist training.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Kenneth Thompson)

About 250 places will be available in all: 150 in one-year supplementary courses and 100 in one-year advanced courses In addition about thirty places will be offered in one-term courses. Comprehensive figures of the number of teachers of handicapped children who have not received specialist training are not available.

Mr. Boyden

Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the training of these specialist teachers is quite inadequate? Should he not take steps to increase the number of places for these courses and other courses as well?

Mrs. White

Does the hon. Gentleman agree with his Minister's estimate that there should be approximately 10,000 teachers with this special training and that the number of training places which he has mentioned as available merely make up the wastage?

Mr. Thompson

I think that the hon Lady's figure is about right. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] In reply to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Boyden) on the supply of further qualified teachers, we have to make the advance in the number of places available match the number of tutors available to man the additional requirements in the training colleges. In this we are doing the best we can.