It indicates that new teachers would benefit from more help during initial training and induction as they develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to teach pupils with the range of SEN and disabilities in today’s mainstream classrooms.

Meeting teachers’ training needs and improving their knowledge and skills will help them deliver a more inclusive and personalised learning experience for pupils.

To tackle the issues raised and to help teachers, particularly newly qualified teachers (NQTs), to be better prepared to support pupils with SEN and disabilities in mainstream schools, we have worked with government to develop this package of new measures.

Support for trainee teachers

To support the improvement of trainees’ practice in this area, we have:

• developed three SEN and disabilities focused units. These will be piloted in undergraduate primary ITT courses in 10 higher education institutions (HEIs) from September 2006
• developed an extended (four-week) placement in a special school to be piloted in undergraduate primary and secondary ITT courses in up to 20 HEIs, also from September 2006
• produced a leaflet for all beginner teachers to direct them to a web-resource detailing trainee teachers’ responsibilities as well as recommended links to further information on teaching pupils with SEN, and
• produced SEN and disabilities focused guidance materials and exemplars for newly qualified teachers to be piloted in eight local authorities during 2006/07.

Support for teachers in service

We are working with a consortium of teacher training providers to run a two-year pilot project designed to enhance the specialist SEN and disabilities expertise of serving teachers. The pilot will run from September 2006, within six local authorities across England. It will give approximately 100 experienced teachers the opportunity to study for an SEN specialist masters-level qualification.

To help strengthen links between mainstream and special schools, the TDA has funded projects in nine local authorities to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and practice between professionals working in different settings.

Support for trainers of teachers

For teacher trainers we:

• are developing resources, available in 2007, to support consistency of assessment against those QTS and induction standards which have a SEN/inclusion elements
• have developed a dedicated special educational needs (SEN) micro-site which forms part of the teacher training resource bank and 
• have developed a network of SEN and disabilities tutors to aid communication of effective practice between trainers.

If you have any further questions about these projects, please contact sent@tda.gov.uk