Teachers: Training

(asked on 18th April 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of initial teacher training on (a) SEND and (b) literacy difficulties.


Answered by
Nick Gibb Portrait
Nick Gibb
This question was answered on 30th April 2019

To complete teacher training and achieve qualified teacher status, trainees must meet the Teachers’ Standards (2011). The Standards require trainees to have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them. It also requires them to demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge, including taking responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy and the correct use of standard English, whatever the teacher’s specialist subject.

The Department published further guidance in July 2016, the Framework of core content for ITT, which provides additional advice for providers to ensure their courses support trainees to meet the above expectations.

It is Ofsted’s responsibility to inspect the quality of teacher training and at their most recent inspection, 99% of all ITT providers were rated good or outstanding[1].

In the Recruitment and Retention Strategy, published in January 2019, the Department committed to reviewing ITT content guidance, to ensure the new Early Career Framework builds on and complements ITT.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/initial-teacher-education-inspections-and-outcomes-as-at-30-june-2018.

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