Equipping teachers to do the job

ENGLAND – Schools will be funded to train their Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) – the key teaching leader responsible for the learning and support of all children with special educational needs – under plans announced by schools minister Andrew Adonis.

The government will provide an extra £10 million (NZ$28.3 million) a year to enable all new SENCOs to undertake high quality, nationally accredited training.

The extra funding will underpin a new requirement, from September 2009, for all new SENCOs to be both qualified teachers and to receive additional training.

It is part of a package of measures set out to improve support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities, outlined in his speech to the Voice union conference.

“Improving the life chances of children with special educational needs and disabilities is an absolute priority for this Government and equipping teachers with the skills they need is central to this,” Mr Adonis said.

“Teachers who take on a specific role in helping children with special needs and disabilities are an inspirational group, who do an amazing job. It is only right that we meet their commitment by providing them with the professional development they need.”

Extra training will also be provided to trainee and existing teachers in a further package.

Undergraduate trainee teachers will benefit from new SEN and disability course materials, developed by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA), and students will be provided with increased opportunities to experience placements in special schools or other specialist SEN units.