§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in developing professional qualifications, matched to NVQs, for learning support assistants. [94728]
§ Jacqui SmithWork is currently in progress to develop a national framework of training and qualifications for teaching assistants. The Department is working on this with the Local Government National Training Organisation (LGNTO) in consultation with Local Educational Authorities, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and other bodies. This framework will cover all teaching assistants including those learning support assistants who support children with special educational needs. As part of the first phrase of this work, we have commissioned LGNTO to develop national occupational standards for all teaching assistants. This work is due to be completed in Spring 2000.