Government pledges more support for trainee teachers looking to work with severely disabled children

Friday 05 March 2010

David Congdon, Mencap's head of campaigns and policy, comments:

"We are pleased that the government has recognised the need for more support and training but this must include all staff that work with children with profound learning disabilities- not just teachers. In particular, teaching assistants play a key role in the classroom and need the same level of investment from the government.

Effective communication with children who have profound and multiple learning disabilities is vital for an equal access to education. It is essential that training includes these skills."

ENDS

For more information please contact Jenny Brannan on 020 7696 6017 or email jenny.brannan@mencap.org.uk. Out of hours please call 07770 656 659.

• About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also the largest service provider of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. See http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.