Qualifications for teachers of children and young people who are blind, partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind.

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Closes 4 Jul 2025

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Questions

1. What are your views on the revised language used to describe sensory impairments, specialist provision and educational needs within the draft guidance?
2. What are your views regarding the recommended minimum of 90 credits specific to Visual Impairment Education, Deaf Education, or Deafblind Education at SCQF Masters Level 11 as an appropriate qualification for teachers who teach children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind?
3. Does the draft guidance set out a clear route on how teachers can acquire the appropriate qualification to teach children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind?

If no, please specify which areas are unclear.

4. What are your views regarding the recommendation for teachers working with children or young people who need to use braille to acquire a qualification in Contracted Unified English Braille?
5. What are your views regarding the minimum British Sign Language (BSL) level recommended for teachers working with children or young people who use BSL? (BSL Level 3 at point of acquiring the qualification, and BSL Level 5 within a year of qualifying)
6. What are your views regarding the recommendation for a three-year transitional period to allow teachers who teach children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind to acquire the recommended qualifications?

More information

The draft guidance recommends a transitional period of 3 years in which a teacher is to obtain the relevant qualifications to teach children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind, unless specific circumstances apply.

Please provide further details.

7. Do you think the Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 regarding the length of time to obtain the appropriate qualification should be changed to reflect the recommendation in the guidance or kept the same?

Additional information

The draft guidance recommends that the period of time for a teacher to obtain the appropriate qualification should be up to three years. The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 provide that this is a period of five years.

If alternative suggestion, please provide details.

8. Do you think a minimum allocation of three days of study time per 20 credit course module by Education Authorities to support teachers in obtaining the minimum qualifications recommended is appropriate?
9. What are your views regarding the teacher competencies for teachers of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted?
10. What are your views regarding the competencies for teachers of children and young people who are deaf?
11. What are your views regarding the competencies for teachers of children and young people who are deafblind?
12. Does the clarification of the terms ‘wholly’ and ‘mainly’, and the examples in the guidance provide clarity on who is required to hold an appropriate qualification?

More information

The Requirements for Teachers (Scotland) Regulations 2005 provide that teachers who are employed wholly or mainly to teach children and young people with sensory impairments must possess an appropriate qualification. The draft guidance provides clarification, and examples, on the meaning of the terms ‘wholly’ and ‘mainly’.

If no, how could this be clarified further.

13. Overall, do you think the guidance is clear and easy to understand?

Please provide further comment.

14. Is there anything further you would like to comment on or propose for inclusion into the guidance?