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<p>The department’s ambition is that all children and young people receive the right
support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.</p><p> </p><p>The
special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision (AP) Improvement
Plan outlines the government’s mission to establish a single, national SEND and AP
system, with the proposal to develop national standards a fundamental foundation for
this.</p><p> </p><p>This new single national system will set standards on what support
should be made available in mainstream settings, including for children with vision
impairment. The National Standards will outline the types of special educational provision
that should be available, who is responsible for delivering that support, and clarify
expectations on mainstream settings and local services. To inform national standards,
the department is engaging with stakeholders across education, health and social care,
as well as children, young people and their families, this includes members of the
Royal National Institute of Blind People.</p><p> </p><p>The department is committed
to ensuring a steady supply of teachers of children with vision impairment in both
specialist and mainstream settings. To teach a class of pupils with vision impairments,
a teacher is required to hold the relevant mandatory qualification for sensory impairment
(MQSI). There are currently six providers of the MQSI, with a seventh from September
2024. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is developing
a new occupational standard for teachers of sensory impairment, expected to be available
from September 2025. Children and young people with special educational needs have
more access to assistive technology following investment in remote education and accessibility
features, which can reduce or remove barriers to learning. </p>
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