§ Mr. WelshTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if it his policy(a) to increase the number of learning support teachers in Scottish schools and (b) that all such teachers should have at least two years experience as a classroom teacher; and what proposals he has to improve the current system of training for such teachers. [40254]
§ Mr. Wilson[holding answer 30 April 1998]: It is for education authorities to determine the number and deployment of teaching staff, including learning support teachers, necessary to meet their statutory obligation to make adequate and efficient provision for education in their area including provision for special educational needs.
For specialist training courses candidates must have qualified via a Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Education and normally have at least 2 years' teaching experience.
The Scottish Office funds a project based at St. Andrews College to identify and co-ordinate education authorities' in-service training requirements in special educational needs and to match these with provision or where there is an unfilled need, to create appropriate provision.
Additional financial support of £1.5 million per annum is made available to authorities under the In-Service Special Educational Needs Training Specific Grant Scheme. In addition £0.5 million per annum is being made available for special educational needs training under our Early Intervention Programme and my right hon. Friend announced on 30 April that from April 1999 this will increase to £1 million per annum for the duration of the Programme.