§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to improve IT access for disabled children and those with learning difficulties in Gloucestershire. [52100]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Department is pursuing a number of initiatives to improve IT access for all children, including those with a disability or learning difficulty. These include £11 million in the Schools Access Initiative last year to help mainstream schools become more accessible to children with disabilities. The purchase of information technology equipment was part of this initiative. In addition £100 million is being invested to enable schools to buy the latest technology and educational software to access the National Grid for Learning. The Grid will ensure that children develop the skills they need to be part of an inclusive society.
§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures his Department is taking to support dyslexic children in Gloucestershire in respect of(a) specialist training and (b) IT projects. [52103]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe have made resources available to ensure that teachers are equipped to use new technology and are able to show all young people, including those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, how IT can help them. This is in addition to a new ICT curriculum for the initial training of all new teachers. We have also tasked the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (formerly known as the National Council for Education Technology) with supporting the Government's commitment to promote the development of relevant teaching and learning resources for ICT, with particular reference to provision for special educational needs.