Current Projects
EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF DfE INVESTMENT IN INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE TEACHER WORKFORCE SKILLS IN RELATION TO SEN AND DISABILITIES
GEOFF LINDSAY1, JULIE DOCKRELL2, STEVE STRAND1, SEAMUS HEGARTY1, MORAG STEWART2, DIMITRA HARTAS3, CHRIS HASLUCK4, MARTIN DESFORGES1, MAIRI ANN CULLEN1& STEPHEN CULLEN1
1 CEDAR, 2 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, 3WARWICK INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, 4INSTITUTE OF EMPLOYMENT
The government has funded a number of initiatives designed to support the teacher workforce by improving knowledge, confidence and skills with respect to children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This is particularly important as a means of supporting the development of inclusive education. This is a large scale and complex project which examines the impact of a number of different initiatives. The Training and Development Agency for Schools and the National Strategies are central to the initiatives which will support those in initial teacher training as well as newly qualified teachers, Special Educational Needs Coordinators and others. One initiative is the Inclusion Development Programme which is being rolled out to support the development of workforce skills and the teaching and learning of children and young people with speech, language and communication needs and those with dyslexia (2008-09), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (2009-10) and behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (2010-11). Support is also being provided to the Michael Palin Centre to develop and now disseminate a Stammering Information Programme.
Our study includes surveys, focus groups, interviews and case studies. We are also examining evidence of pupils' benefits as well as those of teachers and others who are direct recipients of the support.
The study takes place between December 2008 and March 2011. We produced an interim report for the DCSF (unpublished). The 1st Interim Report will be published shortly. The final report is due in the Spring 2011.
