Scottish Government
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Scottish Sensory Centre
A deal has been struck between the Scottish Government and Edinburgh University to protect the services provided by the Scottish Sensory Centre.
The move follows a commitment made by the First Minister to convene a meeting between Edinburgh University, the Scottish Sensory Centre and the Scottish Government to discuss the way forward.
Under the new arrangement, the Scottish Government will provide £150,000 to enable the Centre - which supports teachers of deaf, visually impaired and deafblind pupils - to remain open for a further 12 months. Edinburgh University, where the Centre is based, has also agreed to provide £50,000. This joint funding will help protect jobs at the Centre during 2011-12.
Its longer-term funding will be considered as part of the Doran review of learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs, which is currently underway.
Children's Minister Adam Ingram, who today met representatives of the University of Edinburgh's Moray House School of Education, the Scottish Council on Deafness, the National Deaf Children's Society and Cathie Craigie MSP to outline the new joint package of support, said:
"Ministers recognise the valuable contribution which the Scottish Sensory Centre has made over the years to enhance learning provision for children and young people with sensory impairments. We also recognise the support there is for ensuring the Centre can continue to provide development and training opportunities for teachers working in this field.
"We have therefore been working closely with the University and stakeholders to review how we can continue to support the Centre in the coming year, while we await the outcome of the Doran review into learning provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs. This deal with the University will enable us to achieve that and protect jobs at the Centre during the next 12 months."
Professor Cara Aitchison, Head of Moray House School of Education at the University, said:
"The decision by the Scottish Government to continue to fund the Scottish Sensory Centre is very welcome. The funding is recognition of the valuable work that we do to support inclusive education and additional support for learning. We look forward to working in partnership with the Scottish Government to make a positive difference to the lives of Scotland's visually impaired, deaf and deafblind pupils and the teachers, volunteers and parents who work with them."
