§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of hearing-impaired children is being taught in(a) special schools, (b) hearing-impaired units and (c) mainstream schools alongside hearing children.
§ Mr. FallonThis information is not held centrally.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he has received concerning the funding of training for teachers of deaf children; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consideration he has given to the findings of the survey by the joint monitoring and study group on the training of teachers of the deaf into the numbers and supply of teachers for deaf children;
(3) what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that the number of teachers of deaf children currently being trained is sufficient to replace those retiring or leaving the profession; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FallonThe Department is currently conducting a review of the funding arrangements for the training of teachers of pupils with special educational needs including teachers of deaf children. Local education authorities, professional bodies and the training institutes are being consulted and a number have made representations on the methods of funding. The survey by the joint monitoring and study group is being considered as part of that wider review.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondments were available to train teachers of deaf children in the academic years(a) 1988–89, (b) 1989–90 and (c) 1990–91; and how many of these were taken up.
§ Mr. FallonThe provision of secondments for training teachers of deaf children is for local education authorities to determine in the light of local circumstances and priorities. The Department makes available funding to support training for teachers through the grants for education support and training scheme (GEST) and in 1992–93 is supporting expenditure of £2.1 million.
§ Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what monitoring is carried out to ensure that hearing-impaired children have full access to the national curriculum.
§ Mr. FallonIt is for local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers to implement and ensure full access to the national curriculum, subject to any statutory exceptions which may be in force. Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools monitors the implementation of the national curriculum, including access for pupils with special educational needs, on a national basis and advises the Secretary of State as necessary. The Standards in Education 1989–90 report produced by HM senior chief inspector of schools said that
there was some particularly good work with hearing impaired pupils".