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<p>On 2 March 2023, the department published the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
(SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan in response to the Green Paper
published in March last year. The Plan outlines the government’s mission for the SEND
and AP system to fulfil children’s potential, including those with sensory impairment.</p><p>As
stated in the Improvement Plan, the department has developed a new approval process
to determine providers of Mandatory Qualifications in Sensory Impairment (MQSI) from
the start of the 2023/24 academic year. This is to support the supply of teachers
with an MQSI.</p><p>The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE)
is also developing an apprenticeship for teachers of sensory impairment. IfATE is
working with universities, local authorities, and sector representatives, including
the National Deaf Children’s Society, the Royal National Institute of Blind People,
and the British Association of Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People to develop
the qualification and expects it to be available from 2025.</p><p>The department is
exploring further options to maximise take up of MQSIs with a view to improving the
supply of teachers for children with sensory impairments.</p><p> </p>
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