The advanced training materials for autism; dyslexia; speech, language and communication needs; emotional, social and behavioural difficulties; and moderate learning difficulties are designed to support teachers in mainstream schools who wish to gain specialist skills for teaching pupils with:

  • autism spectrum disorders (ASD);
  • dyslexia or specific learning difficulties (SpLD);
  • speech, language and communication needs (SLCN);
  • behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD);
  • moderate learning difficulties (MLD).

Responding to the Lamb Inquiry

The Lamb Inquiry’s final report  found that advanced teacher training going beyond the core skills in SEND varied across the country, both in terms of availability and accreditation. It highlighted the importance of teachers acquiring such skills in:

  • improving outcomes for pupils with SEND;
  • raising parental confidence in the system of teaching these pupils.

In February 2010, the Government published its implementation plan in response to the Inquiry’s findings. This recommended that the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) – the core functions of which have now been assumed by the Teaching Agency – should 'develop training modules to increase the level of "advanced" skills around the five main SEN areas'.

These online training materials were commissioned as a result of that recommendation; they are free to use and available on a dedicated sub-section of the Department's website (see link from associated resources section below).

Before you start using the materials, please ensure that you have not confused them with the training materials for teachers of learners with severe, profound and complex learning difficulties, which were commissioned following the Salt Review 

Although the two sites are similar in appearance, they differ in purpose, subject matter and intended audience. You may want to take time to compare and contrast so you can be clear from the outset which will best meet your needs.

Since the TDA commissioned these advanced materials, Charlie Taylor, the Government’s expert advisor on behaviour, has published a review Improving Alternative Provision. This review was written in response to a speech made by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, on 1 September 2011. This speech referred to an ‘educational underclass’ of pupils who are outside the mainstream education world who fail to achieve academically and grow up without the skills required to become successful adults and members of society.

Charlie Taylor was asked to conduct a review of the existing provision and make recommendations for improving the outcomes for these vulnerable children. The starting point of the review is that the focus of pupil referral units and alternative provision, just as it is in schools, should be about providing high-quality education for all pupils and the best value for public money. The Improving Alternative Provision review specifically mentions the number of pupils in pupil referral units (PRUs) who have SEND.

Charlie Taylor has also produced a checklist Getting the Simple Things Right on the basics of classroom management. Teachers can use it to develop between five and ten essential actions to encourage good behaviour in students.

Also of interest may be the Ensuring Good Behaviour in Schools document, which summarises the legal powers and duties that govern behaviour and attendance in schools and explains how they apply to headteachers, governing bodies, teachers, parents and pupils.

All the materials referenced above can be accessed from the associated resources section below.

Using the materials

The advanced training materials are presented in a series of downloadable reading resources compiled by the Institute of Education (IoE). These are supported by interactive online elements, videos and audio clips.

The resources blend expert academic contributions and discussion of legislation, the curriculum and prominent texts with:

  • practical tasks and exercises;
  • insight into different teaching methods and interventions;
  • video, audio and written case studies;
  • evidence and data from qualitative and quantitative research and the School Census.

When you start using the materials, you will be asked to select a study module in your chosen specialism. This will be broken up into a number of units, which you can work through sequentially around your own schedule.

Further details and a link to launch the application are available in the associated resources section.