A TEACHER training programme based in Basingstoke has been given the distinction of being just one of 20 schemes to take part in a national case study.

The Basingstoke Alliance SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training), in which people are trained to become teachers in a school environment, has been included in a project looking to find best practice across the country.

The University College of London Centre for Inclusive Education, on behalf of the Whole School SEND (special educational needs and disability) Consortium, has received funding from the Department for Education to undertake a range of research activities relating to SEND aspects of teacher training.

As a part of of the project, researchers are looking to find the best practice in how teacher training incorporates SEND issues.

They have selected only 20 across the whole country to examine, including the Basingstoke Alliance SCITT.

The case studies will play an important role enhancing learning throughout England.

There are currently 12 secondary schools in the Basingstoke Alliance SCITT.

The lead school in the partnership is Dove House Academy, in Sutton Road, South View, which offers specialised training in SEND.

Basingstoke Alliance SCITT programme manager and assistant headteacher at Dove House Academy, Nicky Hepworth, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen for the case study, it is fantastic for Basingstoke and lots of really good work is going on.

“They identified that the SCITT as an example out of the 20 to show good practice among providers.

“All schools need good teachers, and because we focus on the outcomes for children, we give them the opportunities to succeed.

“In my more than 25 years in this sector, I’ve been in schools as good as this one, but none better.”

Training at the Basingstoke Alliance SCITT places a strong focus on helping SEND pupils.

Nicky added: “There is a core strand of SEND education in our course, we have specialists come in, and make sure that the trainee teachers get to do placements at schools which require SEND training, including Dove House Academy.

“There is a sense of progression for the teacher training, we include our ethos of making them into educational problem solvers as well as teachers. We are developing teachers with the essential SEND skills.

“We work with parents and carers, which is important, as well as with external agencies.

“The children are incredible, they really want to learn and become independent learners.”

The researchers’ interview with Nicky took place last year and will form part of the report which will be published in April this year.