The evidence we have shows that teachers would benefit from more help during initial teacher training and induction. This is when teachers develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to teach pupils with SEN and disabilities in mainstream classrooms.
By meeting teachers’ training needs and improving their knowledge and skills, we can help them deliver a more inclusive and personalised learning experience for pupils.
We have worked with the government to develop new ways of preparing teachers to support pupils with SEN and disabilities in mainstream schools.
Support for trainee teachers
TDA has set up three units focusing on SEN and disabilities. We are piloting these in undergraduate primary initial teacher training (ITT) courses at 10 higher education institutions (HEIs) during 2006/07.
We have also developed a four-week placement in a special school, which is being piloted in undergraduate primary and secondary ITT courses at up to 20 HEIs during 2006/07.
We have produced a leaflet for all trainee teachers, directing them to a web resource that details their responsibilities and where to find out more about teaching pupils with SEN.
Support for teachers in service
We have commissioned guidance materials focused on SEN and disabilities, plus models of good practice for newly qualified teachers. We intend to pilot the materials during the second half of the 2006/07 academic year.
We are also piloting a two-year project with a group of teacher training providers, designed to enhance the SEN expertise of serving teachers. The pilot will run from September 2006, within six local authorities across England. Around 50 experienced teachers will get the chance to study for an SEN specialist masters level qualification.
The TDA has funded projects in nine local authorities to exchange knowledge and practice between professionals working in different settings. We hope this will strengthen links between mainstream and special schools.
We are in the initial stages of producing an accreditation system for leaders of SEN and disabilities education in schools. We will provide more details of this project here as our work progresses.
Support for teacher trainers
We want to support consistency in the way those QTS and induction standards that have SEN or inclusion elements are assessed. We are developing resources for this purpose, which will be available in summer 2007.
We have developed a dedicated SEN micro-site, which forms part of the teacher training resource bank. Visit the SEN teacher training resource bank. (This site is currently under development – find out more on the TTRB website.)
We have also developed a network of SEN and disabilities tutors, to help trainers communicate their effective practice better.
If you would like to know more about any of these projects, e-mail sent@tda.gov.uk
See also
