Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with teacher training providers on ensuring sufficient placement opportunities for trainees.

The department works closely with initial teacher training (ITT) providers to support them in securing high-quality school placements. This includes engagement through dedicated forums and collaboration with sector bodies such as the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers.

The department monitors data from our digital recruitment services to identify trends and challenges across the sector. Where providers experience difficulties in sourcing placements, we encourage them to share their concerns with us so that appropriate support can be considered. We also expect providers to work collaboratively with each other and offer mutual support where needed.

To further strengthen the system, the department is piloting a new digital service this year designed to improve the visibility of placement opportunities. This service allows schools to express an interest in hosting ITT placements, making it easier for providers to identify and connect with schools in their area.

The department recognises that a key challenge for schools is the time and cost associated with hosting trainees. That is why we have introduced funding to support schools for the time their mentors spend in training. This funding is available to all schools hosting ITT placements.