Qualification to train more teachers of sensory impairments from 2025 to be created by apprenticeships body (BSL)

A new apprenticeship is being developed to boost the number of teachers of sensory impairments – including teachers of the deaf – and is expected to be available from 2025 onwards, the UK Government has announced.

Details of the qualification were revealed in the Department for Education’s improvement plan for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) on Thursday, which also includes measures to digitise Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Claire Coutinho, the minister for children, families and wellbeing, said: “Parents know that their children only get one shot at education and this can have an enormous impact on their child’s ability to get on with life. Yet for some parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, getting their child that superb education that everyone deserves can feel like a full-time job.

“The Improvement Plan that we are publishing today sets out systemic reforms to standards, teacher training and access to specialists as well as thousands of new places at specialist schools so that every child gets the help they need.”

The full plan states the government recognises “concerns regarding the number of teachers of the deaf” and are “exploring further options” to improve the number of teachers for children with sensory impairments.

“This will open up a paid, work-based route into teaching children and young people with sensory impairments by enabling people to undertake high-quality apprenticeships. This will improve the supply of those qualified to teach this important cohort and further help to improve their outcomes.

“The apprenticeship will attract levy funding, meaning those wanting to undertake it would be funded to do so whilst being in paid work. This will help to open up the profession to individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds,” it reads.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) will lead the development of the new qualification, working alongside universities, local authorities and charities including the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS).

The charity has repeatedly highlighted falling teacher of the deaf numbers, with the organisation reporting a loss of nearly one in five teachers since 2011.

Branding the improvement plan as a “positive step in the right direction” and “greatly needed”, NDCS’ chief policy advisor Ian Noon said: “A new apprenticeship pathway for specialist teachers of children with sensory impairment has the potential to make a big difference. However, deaf children cannot wait until this is in place to get the specialist support they need.

“Action to increase the number of specialist teachers before then is still vital.

“Although we know there will remain many more barriers to break down, these policies have a real chance to create a fairer education system for deaf children and young people.

“Intentions must become actions and we look forward to working with the Government to take forward its improvement plan. Ensuring that the needs of deaf children and their families are considered throughout will remain essential to the success of these reforms.”

The full improvement plan can be found on the UK Government’s website, with an executive summary available in British Sign Language.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.