§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support his Department is giving to the in-service training of teachers of children with severe learning difficulties and the national curriculum.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department is making grants available through the local education authority training grants scheme to support some £70 million expenditure on training related to the national curriculum in 1990–91. The Department has made it clear, in guidance to local education authorities, that all aspects of training in the basic curriculum should apply to pupils with special educational needs. The scheme is also supporting over £2.2 million expenditure on specialist training in severe learning difficulties, which may also include aspects of national curriculum training.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students have graduated from the initial teacher training course at Westhill college, specialising in training to work with children with severe learning difficulties, in the last five years.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthNumbers of students graduating from the initial teacher training course at Westhill college, specialising in training to work with children with severe learning difficulties, in the last five years are shown in the table. Related figures for in-service provision in this area are also shown.
Academic Year 4 year BEd Full-time (1 year) In-service1 Part-time (2 year) In-service2 1989–90 18 11 0 1988–89 18 17 0 1987–88 22 9 3 1986–87 21 10 4 1985–86 19 13 9 Notes:
1 The last entry to the four year primary BEd with a major subject option in mental handicap was in September 1987 and the final cohort of students will graduate in 1991.
2 The college offered a diploma in special education (mental handicap) prior to September 1987 and a B. Phil. Ed. in severe learning difficulties after this date.
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§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for initial teacher training and the education of children with severe learning difficulties.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthInitial training in this field is now provided mainly through long in-service courses, which are eligible for support at the higher rate of grant under the local education authority training grants scheme. We are currently reviewing the way in which this and other areas of training in special educational needs are organised and funded, with a view of establishing whether the effectiveness of the current arrangements could be improved. The outcomes of this review will not be determined until later in the year.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many bachelor of education graduates had specialist training in work with children with special educational needs in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthAll initial teacher training courses have been required since 1984 to include training in the recognition of children with special educational needs and strategies for developing all children's potential. Training for specialist teachers of children with special educational needs is now provided through post-experience training.
The following table shows the numbers of students recruited to bachelor of education courses which provided specialist training for teachers of children with special educational needs from 1983 until 1987, the last year in which such courses recruited.
Entrants to bachelor of education special needs courses 1983 to 1987 Year Students 1983 56 1984 56 1985 41 1986 43 1987 48 Source: Department of Education and Science survey of recruitment to initial teacher training.