LSIS and NIACE have joined forces to launch specialist qualifications aimed at staff working with disabled learners.

Developed by the sector for the sector, the qualifications are available both for  teachers and for learning support practitioners.  They not only provide an opportunity for staff to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to all disabled learners but also allow for focus on a specialist area of disability.

To be officially launched in December, the qualifications are being introduced following extensive consultations and a lengthy development process.  LLUK commissioned NIACE to research roles and responsibilities in relation to teaching and supporting the learning of disabled individuals.

For teachers, the qualifications include:

* A qualification that integrates generic and subject specific content.   The first part of the qualification focuses on the specialism and the second part is generic.

* A qualification that provides training only for teaching disabled learners – often referred to as a standalone qualification. To work in the FE sector in England, a teacher must hold or gain a generic teaching qualification as well.

For learning support practitioners, the qualification is a Level 3 Certificate in Learning Support (Disabled Learners).

These qualifications are underpinned by a professional standard detailing the knowledge, skills and understanding expected of all teachers and learning support staff specialising in working with disabled learners.  Awarding organisations and their centres will use this standard to inform the content of their qualifications and programmes.

The official launch for the new qualifications will take place on 14 December 2011 at the Abbey Centre, 34 Great Smith Street, Westminster, London.

The launch is open to teachers and learning support practitioners working in this field along with strategic and operational managers and those responsible for the professional development of staff. 

As well as introducing delegates to the new awards, the event will feature keynote speakers and debates on aspects of curriculum and teaching raised in the recent Ofsted report Progression post-16 for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. 

For further information and to apply for a place, visit the NIACE website.