Local authorities provide for children with special educational needs either in mainstream schools where children take part in school activities with the support of special educational needs assistants (SEN) or in special schools. Of the 38,000 twoto 19-year-old children in England with severe learning difficulties (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), around three quarters attend special schools where the staffing, facilities and resources are dedicated to providing for their complex individual needs.
A report commissioned by Labour in 2010 highlighted some of the problems around the training of specialist SEN teachers. Written by Toby Salt, then deputy chief executive at the National College for Leadership of School and Children's Services, the report recommended strengthening coverage of early childhood development and basic knowledge of the definitions of SLD/PMLD for trainee teachers. It also recommended raising awareness of the fact that qualified teacher status (QTS) placement in a special school, and special school experience, can count as prior experience for admission to a teacher training programme.
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