§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance his Department has given to local education authorities about making educational provision for children with a hearing loss(a) over and (b) under the age of two years in order to support their language and educational development. [122249]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs includes guidance on the steps to be taken to identify and meet the needs of children with sensory impairments, including hearing difficulties. The Code of Practice also contains a chapter offering guidance on assessments of special educational needs for children under the age of five, which includes specific guidance on the assessment of children under the age of two. Local education authorities are under a statutory duty to have regard to the Code of Practice.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to ensure that take-up of training by teachers wishing to undertake the mandatory training for teachers of the deaf is sufficient to meet national demand. [122250]
§ Jacqui SmithPrime responsibility for the in-service training of teachers rests with local education authorities and schools, who are in the best position to determine their needs and respond to demand in the light of local circumstances. In recognition of the importance of training, the Department is supporting expenditure of £26 million in the 2000–01 financial year through the Standards Fund to help LEAs with the costs of training teachers of children with special educational needs, including training in the mandatory qualifications. The Teacher Training Agency has also been conducting a review of the courses leading to mandatory qualifications.