§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on his proposal to train primary school teachers on 12-month courses; what assessment he has made of how the quality of training will compare with conventional teacher training courses; and what salary structure he expects teachers trained by this scheme to receive.
§ Mr. Robin SquireMy right hon. Friend has recently issued for consultation proposals for new one-year courses for the training of specialist nursery and infant teachers. Entry to such courses would be restricted to mature people, with considerable experience of working with young children, who possess the qualifications for entry to higher education and are capable of attaining the required competences within one year. My right hon. Friend has invited views about the nature, organisation and content of such courses, which would complement and not replace existing routes into primary teaching. Those successfully completing the courses would receive specialised qualified teacher status which entitled them to teach pupils up to the end of key stage 1. Qualified teachers are paid in accordance with the scales and other provisions set out in the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document.