Teachers of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind: guidance - consultation - easy read

Skills and Knowledge Needed by Teachers

Being a Teacher in Scotland

This section has the professional standards needed to be a good teacher of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind.

Professional Values

Teachers should:

• Give the children and young people they teach, their parents/carers, managers, council staff officers and inspectors the right choices, information, support, and high-quality teaching.

• Keep high standards for successful learning, behaviour, and outcomes for children and young people they teach.

• Be open and honest about the work they do.

• Work together and share information with other staff and professionals like speech and language therapists.

• Value every child and young person they teach.

• Give education opportunities to parents.

• Protect the rights and hopes of all children to speak at least one language well before the age of 5.

Professional Commitment and Standards

Teachers should:

• Keep up to date with the best research and resources.

• Show they understand inclusion and anti-discrimination. What it means for the children and young people they teach and what resources they need.

• Understand different attitudes and cultures to inclusion and how they affect children and young people.

• Show that they understand the rights of the children they teach and the laws on education and discrimination.

• Show that they can change the way they work if needed.

Plan and measure their progress in teaching.

Professional Knowledge and Understanding

This section says the professional knowledge and understanding needed.

Teachers should:

• Understand all disabilities and the impact they have on learning needs.

• Know about equipment and technology that can help the children and young people they teach and how to use it.

• Know how to do assessments of educational needs. Gather information from parents/carers and other professionals.

• Understand the needs and issues children and young people face as they go through different stages of their lives and education.

• Understand the different kinds of education. This includes home based learning, early years, mainstream schools, special schools, and others.

• Have up-to-date knowledge of learning media. Use this to help a child or young person access education in the right way for them.

• Understand key working and informed choices.

Professional Responsibilities

Teachers should:

• Know all about Education Systems including the Further and Higher Education system and how they affect children and young people.

• Understand the supports and barriers for young adults and support available for apprentices. Be able to share information on accessing support if needed.

• Be able to work with professionals and parent/carers involved with the education of children and young people who are blind or partially sighted, deaf, or deafblind.

• Be able to have good relationships with the child or young person, their family and those involved in their care to plan and their learning.