The help comes in the form of a new, free, interactive CD-ROM to help teachers work with the National Special Educational Needs Specialist Standards which were published by the Teacher Training Agency (TTA) in 1999.

The CD-ROM reflects the recently revised DfES Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. It features 16 video case studies of teachers working with pupils in a range of mainstream classroom settings. There is informative commentary as well as a search facility for teachers to look for areas that are of particular interest to them. The SEN Specialist Standards are also included in full as a background resource.

Jill Staley, Director of Teacher Training Strategy at the Teacher Training Agency said:

'Teachers are committed to the high achievement of all their pupils but may need further knowledge and skills to help pupils with special educational needs to reach their full potential. Teachers at all stages of their career can work with this resource. As well as helping teachers to build a personal training profile, the CD ROM aims to give them practical ideas and approaches to meeting the learning needs of children in their classes.'

To obtain a free copy of the CD-ROM, visit the publications section of the TTA website, telephone the TTA's publications line on 0845 606 0323, or e-mail ttapublications@iforcegroup.com

Click here to visit the Special Educational Needs area of the TTA website.

Notes to Editors

1. The CD-ROM reflects the revised DfES Special Educational Needs Code of Practice which was issued to all schools in December 2001 and which became effective from 1 January 2002.
2. The CD-ROM also draws heavily on the TTA's National Special Educational Needs Specialist Standards, published in 1999. The Standards were designed as an audit tool to help teachers and headteachers to identify specific training and development needs in relation to the effective teaching of pupils with severe and/or complex SEN.
3. The Teacher Training Agency was established under the Education Act 1994. Its purpose is to raise standards in schools by attracting able and committed people into teaching and by improving the quality of teacher training. The Agency is responsible for a wide range of initiatives to promote recruitment to the teaching profession; for funding initial teacher training, which is linked to the quality of the training provision as identified through OFSTED inspection; for supporting initial teacher training providers to improve their provision; for developing the standards for award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS); and working with the New Opportunities Fund for the provision of training in the use of ICT in subject teaching
4. The following schools helped to produce the CD-ROM and are featured as casestudies within it:
   • Bushey Meads School, Watford
   • Cambridge School, Hammersmith W. London
   • Cams Hill School, Fareham, Hants
   • George Hastwell School, Walney Island Barrow in Furness
   • Gosford Hall School, Kidlington, Oxfordshire
   • Grainville Secondary School, St Saviour, Jersey
   • Langdon School, East Ham, London
   • Mandeville Primary School, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire
   • Mullion County Primary School, Helston, Cornwall
   • Ormerod School, Headington, Oxford
   • Peterbrook Primary School, Solihull, W.Midlands
   • Rush Common School, Abingdon, Oxford
   • St John's Foundation School, Kempson, Beds
   • Sydenham School, Lewisham, London
   • Walney School, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
   • West Oaks School, Wetherby, Leeds