§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many hours of training PGCE students receive in the teaching of children with special needs. [139296]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 20 November 2000]: This information is not collected centrally. However, since 1998 in order to secure qualified teacher status (QTS), students must be able to demonstrate that they can identify pupils with special educational needs, know where to go to get help in order to give positive and targeted support and are familiar with the requirements of the Code of Practice on identification and assessment of SEN, including requirements with regard to the keeping of pupils' records.