New Report on Lack of Training for Teachers
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF MANDATORY TRAINING FOR TEACHERS TO SUPPORT PUPILS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES - ENABLE SCOTLAND ARE PETITIONING FOR CHANGE
Read the report here.(PDF)
Get a copy of the petition here. (Word)
Pupils with additional support needs are being short-changed by an educational system that fails to train staff to meet their needs, the leading charity ENABLE Scotland has claimed.
ENABLE Scotland, Scotland’s largest voluntary organisation of and for children and adults with learning disabilities, has today published a report revealing that none of Scotland’s 32 local authorities (1) provide mandatory training on learning disability and autism for teachers and support staff. (2). Instead they are opting to provide general training on additional supports needs and equalities but even this is only mandatory in five local authority areas.
There are currently over 11,500 young people with learning disabilities in mainstream schools in Scotland.
The situation on teacher education courses is little better. The ENABLE Scotland research showed that although general training is provided on additional support needs, inclusion and equality issues, specific modules on learning disability and autism are only included in the mandatory curriculum of three universities. This is less than half of the Scottish universities providing initial teacher education. In one case this consisted of just two lectures.
The charity claims that this may be contributing to the high exclusion rates amongst pupils who have support needs. In 2009/10 pupils who have a disability were almost twice as likely to be excluded from school as those without a disability (3).
Peter Scott, Chief Executive of ENABLE Scotland said: “We want to see mandatory training not only in the general topics of additional support needs, inclusion and equalities, but also in the specific areas of behavioural management strategies, communication strategies and awareness of learning disabilities and autism.
We believe this will lead to improved educational achievement and to improved confidence and self esteem for pupils. It will also lead to better relationships between schools and parents and a more supportive learning environment. Furthermore, we believe it will reduce exclusion rates and improve the prospects for young people with learning disabilities”.
The recent review of teacher education (the Donaldson Review) highlighted that teachers want to be better equipped to support pupils with additional support needs and ENABLE Scotland claims training would assist teachers to provide the best educational experience possible for these pupils.
In an effort to highlight this issue to politicians, policymakers and educationalists ENABLE Scotland has launched a petition, which will be presented to the new Parliament with a request that they ensure pupils with additional support needs get the support they need in our schools.
The petition can be accessed at www.enable.org.uk or by phoning 0141 226 4541 for a paper copy.
ENDS
Notes to Editors and Quotes
ENABLE Scotland are in contact with several families who have children with learning disabilities in mainstream schools and are supporting this reform. These families will happily speak to the media and this can be arranged through ENABLE Scotland.
The full report entitled Teacher Education Campaign Report has been sent with this press release. It is also available on the ENABLE Scotland website.
References
1.Bridging the Training Gap, ENABLE Scotland’s Teacher Education Report – replies were received from all 32 local authorities. Six of the responses were incomplete or inadequate and may therefore not be an accurate reflection of what these authorities offer. A summary of findings is included in the full report.
2.Bridging the Training Gap, ENABLE Scotland’s Teacher Education Report
3.Summary Statistics for Schools in Scotland 2010
Mum of two Julia Main is fully supporting the ENABLE Scotland campaign and will be one of the first to sign the petition. Her oldest son, nine year old Tommy, has autism, dyspraxia and allergies while five year old Jake also has autism and severe speech difficulties.
Julia said: “In my experience the support given to my children has varied from teacher to teacher. Because training to support children with additional support needs is not mandatory it is almost just your luck. Tommy was lucky in primary one that his teacher was experienced and trained in this field however subsequent teachers were not. I was told by one teacher he was not mixing with other children. He has autism and socialising can be difficult. Had sufficient training been given to the teacher she would have not only recognised this but would have strategies as to how to best work with Tommy to help him reach his potential. I felt I had no choice but to send Jake to a specialist school as I was worried there would not be sufficiently trained staff at our local mainstream school. If all teachers and classroom assistants were required to undertake training in supporting pupils with additional support needs then children would have an equal opportunity to participate in mainstream education”.
ENABLE Scotland is the country’s leading charity for children and adults with learning disabilities.
We are a member-led organisation. Local ENABLE branches are made up of volunteers, mostly people with learning disabilities and their families and carers.
Learning disability affects around 1 in 50 people. The most well known form is Down’s syndrome, although there are many others. There is no cure for learning disability.
ENABLE Scotland was formed in 1954 by a group of families whose lives were affected by learning disability.
We campaign for people with learning disabilities to live full and independent lives. We also provide services to allow people to live work and take part in their communities.
Contact: