Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Education (Grants for Further Training of Teachers and Educational Psychologists) (Scotland) Regulations 1987 and shall come into force on 30th March 1987.

(2) In these Regulations–

• "assessors" means persons whose duties are–

  (i)

  the provision of advice to the Secretary of State as to the suitability of projects prepared or engaged in by educational psychologists undergoing further training; and

  (ii)

  assistance in the conduct of further training of educational psychologists;

• "grant-aided special school" means a school in respect of which annual maintenance grants are paid in terms of regulation 2 of the Residential Special Schools and Orphanages (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1948(2).

Grants by the Secretary of State

2.  The Secretary of State may, subject to the provisions of these Regulations, pay to–

(a)education authorities and managers of grant-aided special schools grants of such amounts as he thinks necessary or expedient in respect of teachers and educational psychologists in their employment undergoing further training; and

(b)assessors grants of such amounts as he thinks necessary or expedient in respect of remuneration for, and expenses incurred in connection with, their duties.

Training in respect of which grants may be paid

3.  A grant may be paid in respect of–

(a)teachers in respect only of training consisting of attendance at a one year full-time course leading to the Diploma in Special Educational Needs (Recorded Pupils); and

(b)educational psychologists in respect only of training consisting of the preparation of, or engagement in, a project approved as suitable by the Secretary of State, on the advice of an assessor.

Application for, payment of, and conditions of, grants

4.-(1) Applications for grants described in regulation 2(a) above shall be made in writing to the Secretary of State by education authorities or managers of grant-aided special schools, and the Secretary of State shall in any year advise education authorities and managers of grant-aided special schools by circular of the procedure for making application and the last day by which applications must be received by him.

(2) Payment of grants described in regulation 2(a) above shall be made to education authorities or managers of grant-aided special schools by two instalments paid half-yearly in arrears.

(3) If any teacher or educational psychologist in respect of whom a grant described in regulation 2(a) above has been approved fails to complete the course the Secretary of State may revoke and recover from the education authority or managers of a grant-aided special school the whole or such part as he considers appropriate of such grant.

(4) Applications for grants described in regulation 2(b) above shall be made in writing to the Secretary of State by assessors within 6 months of the completion of the duties to which the applications relate and shall consist of a statement of the duties performed, the remuneration claimed in respect of those duties and the expenses of travel and subsistence incurred in connection with those duties, and shall be accompanied by such evidence as to the duties performed and expenses incurred as the Secretary of State may require.

(5) Payment of grants described in regulation 2(b) above may be made to assessors at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of State may determine.

(6) If an assessor has not performed any duty, or has not incurred or has incorrectly stated the amount of any expense, in respect of which a grant described in regulation 2(b) above has been approved the Secretary of State may revoke and recover from the assessor the whole or such part as he considers appropriate of such grant.

(7) Assessors shall not be required to keep accounts of income and expenditure and the condition specified in section 75 (examination of accounts) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 shall not apply to them.

Revocation

5.  The Education (Grants for Further Training of Teachers) (Scotland) Regulations 1984(3) are hereby revoked.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Under section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 the Secretary of State may in accordance with Regulations made by him make payment of such sums as he thinks necessary and expedient for various purposes. Section 74(1) of the Act enables the Secretary of State to prescribe in Regulations conditions with which the recipients of grant are required to comply.

These Regulations provide for payment to education authorities and managers of grant-aided special schools of grants in respect of teachers and educational psychologists employed by them undergoing further training, and regulate the procedure for applying for such grants. Provision is made for revocation of grant and recovery of any payment already made should a teacher or educational psychologist fail to complete a course.

The Regulations also provide for payment of grants in respect of remuneration and expenses to persons who act as assessors in the further training of educational psychologists and regulate the procedure for applying for such grants. Provision is made for revocation of grant and recovery of any payment already made where grant was improperly claimed. Assessors are not required to keep accounts of income and expenditure.

Previous Regulations, which provided for grants only in respect of further training of teachers and are superseded by these Regulations, are revoked.