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Special Needs Teacher Training

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps he has taken in the last three years at (a) the initial teacher training level and (b) in the grants for education support and training programme to provide teachers with the skills to identify children who may be dyslexic; [19930]

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(2) what steps he has taken in the process of preparation and implementation of the code of practice in the identification and assessment of special educational needs of providing training for teachers to identify children (a) learning with difficulties with particular reference to dyslexia and (b) behavioural problems with particular reference to the autistic spectrum. [19931]

Mr. Richards: From autumn 1996 all newly qualified primary teachers will have to acquire in their initial training the necessary foundation to develop the ability to identify and provide for special educational needs,

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including specific learning difficulties or dyslexia. A similar requirement has been in place for newly qualified secondary teachers since autumn 1994.

The Welsh Office for a number of years has made specific grant available to local education authorities under the grants for education support and training programme to develop staff expertise and provision for pupils with special educational needs. This includes grant expressly for training in the teaching of pupils with dyslexia or autism, for teachers with designated responsibilities for special educational needs in ordinary schools and for measures to support schools in the application of the code of practice. The grant is continuing in 1996-97.

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