§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money was made available for teacher training and in-service teacher training for teaching about child protection in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; and how much will be available in 2001. [152280]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department made a further £1.5 million available from the Grants for Education Support and Training (GEST) programme for 1997–98. The purpose of this funding was to enable senior teachers with designated responsibility for child protection to receive appropriate and practical in-service training. From 2001–02, schools will be free to use most of their devolved Standards Fund grant to meet their individual priorities, including, where appropriate, in-service teacher training in child protection. The Standards Fund will increase to around £2.2 billion (excluding capital expenditure) in 2001–02, most of which will be devolved to schools.
Circular 4/98, "Teaching: High Status, High Standards", sets out the requirements for all courses of initial teacher training. It makes specific references to child protection standards, which all trainees must demonstrate that they meet in order to gain Qualified Teacher Status. It is for individual providers to decide how best to deliver appropriate training from within their overall funding.
We are currently reviewing our child protection guidance to the education service and will make a decision later about whether to support any new guidance with further funding for training.