Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken into the learning processes of the various categories of handicapped children.
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe following research projects connected with the learning processes of handicapped children are at present being sponsored by this Department. Research is also being288W sponsored by voluntary organisations and by universities from their own funds, as well as by local education authorities in their schools and clinics.
The Medical Research Council undertakes and supports related research as part of its wider work on physical and psychiatric disability.
Investigator and Institution Project Professor M. M. Lewis, Nottingham Institute of Education. Language development in deaf children in relation to their social, emotional and ethical development. Professor C. Gittins, Swansea Department of Education. Research into the teaching of educationally sub-normal children. Dr. Worster-Drought, Moor House Special School. Analysis of material on speech defects obtained from school records. Dr. G. E. R. Burroughs, Birmingham Depart-of Education. A study of the development of language and thinking in E.S.N. children. Professor J. Tizard, London Institute of Education. A study of medical, psychological and social factors contributing to educational retardation. Professor G. P. Meredith, Leeds Department of Psychology. Research into the treatment of dyslexia. Professor I. G. Taylor, Manchester Department of Audiology and Education of the Deaf. Study of the teaching of reading to deaf children.
Mr. Alan Williamsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what shortages of specialist teachers of handicapped children there are in Swansea, Wales and England, respectively;
(2) if the annual intake of specialist teachers of handicapped children is adequate to meet the need for such teachers.
§ Mr. Denis HowellAdditional qualifications are a statutory requirement only for teachers of blind and deaf and partially hearing children.
In England and Wales the supply of trained teachers of the blind is sufficient to meet the demand, but there is still a shortage of teachers of deaf and partially hearing children. A further training course for this kind of teacher was started last September at the London Institute of Education and the question of increasing the number of places at 289W this course is now being discussed with the University authorities.
In Swansea there is only one vacancy which is for a peripatetic teacher of the deaf.