Hi,

I qualified in England last year after doing a Primary PGCE.  I've moved back to Scotland to follow the Alternative route to registration, and have signed up to my local council's supply list.  I have completed a week in a mainstream primary school, and start a fulll time maternity post in a special school tomorrow.  I'm realy happy to have this opportunity - apart from the fact that I was lucky to get a longer term post, I have always been interested in teaching in this sector and look forward to learning a lot during my time at the school.  My concern, however, is how this will affect my probation and registration with the GTCS as aprimary teacher.  Will a percentage of my teaching time at a special school count? I have also heard that you can register through service in a special school, but as an SEN teacher only.  Is that true?? I have spoken to people at the GTCS on the phone, but remain a bit confused about my options!  If anyone has any advice or experience they could share, I would really appreicate it.  Thanks in advance!

Not sure how it goes in Primary, but in Secondary I was awarded around a third of the time that I worked towards my probation.

This was about 7 years ago mind you, I was the last year that qualified before McCrone came into effect.

The argument was that I wasn't teaching enough "subject specific content" as there were limited certificate candidates, surprisingly...

As I say, only my experience, and it was a (worryingly) good bit ago.

Sorry I can't be much more help.