Mandatory qualifications: specialist teachers
Mandatory qualifications for specialist teachers of pupils with hearing impairment, vision impairment or multi-sensory impairment.
Overview
To teach a class of pupils with hearing impairment (HI), vision impairment (VI), or multi-sensory impairment (MSI), a teacher must hold a mandatory qualification. This qualification is required in addition to qualified teacher status.
To offer the mandatory qualification in sensory impairment (MQSI), providers must be approved by the Secretary of State.
Providers: until 31 August 2023
The following providers are approved to offer courses leading to the mandatory qualification, against the updated specifications from September 2016 to 31 August 2023.
| Provider | Specialism | Link to course details or contact |
|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | VI, HI and MSI | vision impairment, hearing impairment, multisensory impairment |
| University of Leeds | HI | hearing impairment |
| University of Manchester | HI | hearing impairment |
| Mary Hare School / University of Hertfordshire | HI | hearing impairment |
| University of Edinburgh | VI | vision impairment |
| Liverpool John Moores University / St Vincent’s special school | VI | vision impairment |
Specifications for mandatory qualifications: until 31 August 2023
Providers: from 1 September 2023
Following a invitation to tender (ITT) conducted in 2022, the following providers have been approved to offer the MQSI from 1 September 2023.
Providers have been approved for an initial period of 3 years with the option of extending annually for up to a further 3 years.
The MQSI offered from 1 September 2023 will need to meet the revised specifications for mandatory qualifications.
Providers have signed contracts with the Department for Education (DfE) to ensure the high quality delivery of the qualification that meets the needs of the profession and children and young people with sensory impairment.
| Provider | Specialism | Link to course details or contact |
|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | VI, HI and MSI | vision impairment, hearing impairment, multisensory impairment |
| University of Leeds | HI | hearing impairment |
| University of Manchester | HI | hearing impairment |
| Mary Hare School / University of Hertfordshire | HI | hearing impairment |
| University of Edinburgh | VI | vision impairment |
| Liverpool John Moores University | VI | vision impairment |
Additional Providers: from 1 September 2024
| Provider | Specialism | Link to course details or contact |
|---|---|---|
| Seashell Trust | MSI | multisensory impairment |
Revised specifications for mandatory qualifications: from 1 September 2023
In advance of updating the specifications for mandatory qualifications we have made the versions valid from 1 September 2023 available for reference before the original specifications are withdrawn.
Updates to this page
Published 10 November 2014Last updated 14 March 2024 + show all updates
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Added Liverpool John Moores to the approved provider list from September 2023 and the Seashell Trust to the approved provider list from September 2024.
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We have added a new section and documents for 'Specifications for mandatory qualifications: from 1 September 2023'. We have added a list of providers who will offer the mandatory qualification in sensory impairment (MQSI) from September 2023.
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Updated Mandatory Qualification provider list
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Updates to specifications for Mandatory Qualifications for Sensory Impairment for courses starting September 2016.
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Consultation information updated and a new call for providers.
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Consultation has closed.
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First published.