Voice comments on scholarship scheme for SEN support staff

Voice press release: 18 April 2012

Voice comments on scholarship scheme for SEN support staff

Voice: the union for education professionals has commented on the DfE’s £500,000 scholarship scheme for support staff working with pupils with special educational needs (SEN) launched today (18 April 2012). 

General Secretary Philip Parkin said: 

“Although better late than never, this is too little too late and rather limited in scope.

“The scheme targets only the elite – or ‘talented’ as the DfE describes them – those teaching assistants (TAs) who are already well qualified, with A levels or equivalent qualifications or who hold higher level teaching assistant (HLTA) status.

“There remains a real need for the majority of TAs involved in special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)work – those employed at levels one or two, many of whom will be minimally qualified – to gain access to appropriate specialised training. Regrettably, this initiative does nothing for them.”

Notes

Commenting on the SEN Green Paper published on 9 March 2011, General Secretary Philip Parkin said:

"There should be specialist training for staff on how to support diverse learners. For example, SENCOs (special educational needs co-ordinators) could be trained to have a more specialised role.”

Further information:

DfE press release/further information

 DfE: further details of the scholarship  

DfE: Information on 2nd round of National Scholarship Fund for teachers 

Have your say on the Voice Blog (on SEN Green Paper 2011)

Contacts:

Voice Press Office
Email: pressoffice@voicetheunion.org.uk

General Secretary Philip Parkin
Email: philipparkin@voicetheunion.org.uk

Senior Professional Officer (Education) Ian Toone
Email: iantoone@voicetheunion.org.uk

Tel: 01332 372337.