Hundreds of school support staff are to get degree-level and specialist training in helping children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), under a £500,000 programme set out by the children’s minister Sarah Teather.
The annual SEN support scholarship programme will provide up to £2,000 each to boost the skills of talented teaching assistants and school staff who work with children with SEND. The scholarship cash will fund staff through rigorous, specialist courses and qualifications.
Support and aspiration, the SEN green paper published in March last year, set out reforms to develop the expertise – so the most vulnerable children have their needs identified early and get the specialist help they need.
The green paper pointed to evidence that in many schools, pupils with SEND were left to be supported ‘almost exclusively’ by teaching assistants – risking children becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the class and classroom teachers.
Sarah Teather said: “This is about getting the best from all school staff. These scholarships identify and train talented professionals, with the potential to develop their specialist knowledge.
“We know that support staff can make a real difference to the achievement of pupils with SEN and disabilities. They are never a substitute for a qualified teacher – but we know that when used effectively, they are vital to giving the most vulnerable pupils the support they need to get the most out of school.”
Applications will open on 30 April and close on 17 May, with the first scholarships awarded later this year.
This new fund for support staff scholarships is in addition to the national scholarship fund for teachers which opens its second round this month.
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