§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration his Department is currently giving to supplying communication aids to speech impaired children who require such aids in educational facilities.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthSuch provision, where prescribed for pupils with statements under the Education Act 1981, is the responsibility of LEAs. My officials, together with officials of the Department of Health have, however, been assessing whether the current arrangements for the assessment of children with communication handicaps meet the needs of those children in the most efficient and cost-effective way. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will be considering in the light of their work whether any specific steps by the two Departments would be appropriate.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what qualifications a teacher is required to hold over and above the basic teaching certificate in order to specialise in work with children with specific language disorder.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthNone. However, within the local education authority training grants scheme there is a national priority area to support in-service training for designated teachers in ordinary schools who offer a general advisory service to their colleagues on special educational needs. Support for this training is at the discretion of the local education authorities.
180WThe Department is funding a research project to identify the in-service training needs of teachers of children with speech and language disorders and to develop materials for a distance taught course.