§ 63 and 64. Mr. Tilney(1)asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the initial teaching alphabet is used in hospital schools for young children and for others who have not mastered reading and writing ; to what extent it is used for those who are handicapped and for whose education he is responsible ; and whether he will make a statement on the results ;
(2) what use is being made of the initial teaching alphabet in schools for emotionally disturbed, spastic and handicapped children; and with what result.
§ Miss BaconExperimental work in the use of the initial teaching alphabet has been undertaken by a number of local education authorities in a range of special schools, including hospital special schools but mainly in schools for the educationally subnormal. The recent report of the Schools Council does not however include an evaluation of the use of the initial teaching alphabet specifically with children at special schools or others suffering from special learning difficulties. Experimental work has also taken place in the junior training centres for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services is at present responsible.