{"id":28656,"date":"2023-05-09T13:19:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T12:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/?page_id=28656"},"modified":"2026-04-13T16:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:37:35","slug":"msi-teachers-shortage-in-england","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/about-us\/research\/msi-teachers-shortage-in-england\/","title":{"rendered":"MSI teachers shortage in England 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-intro\">There are currently 3,829 children with multi-sensory impairment, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/information-and-advice\/conditions\/deafblindness\/\">deafblindness<\/a>, in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Children who have both sight and hearing loss need specialist support to learn and develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, there are not enough specialist MSI teachers employed by local authorities across the country to meet the needs of these children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box  ctaBox    is-style-textured-secondary-tint-10\">\n    <div class=\"ctaBox__row\">\n      <div class=\"ctaBox__content\">\n        <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could your child benefit from MSI support?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"sensoryimpairments\">Sense offers extra support to young people who are multi-sensory impaired.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n\n      <div class=\"ctaBox__cta\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/our-services\/support-for-children\/help-from-msi-specialists\/\" class=\"button  button--primary\">Get dedicated support<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is an MSI teacher?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>MSI (multi-sensory impairment) teachers are specially trained to support children who are deafblind to learn and develop skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They work with children at school, and they work with other professionals to support the child\u2019s health and educational needs, too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One full time MSI teacher can give vital support to as many as 20 disabled children.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-arrow-right-secondary\"\/>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-primary-tint-10\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A day in the life of an MSI teacher<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"A young child smiling wearing noise cancelling ear muffs\" class=\"wp-image-1502\"\/ style=\"object-position: 38.77% 33.84%;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/SenseEmployment_Feb24-2303-scaled-1-1600x1066.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s not easy to describe a day in the life as a multi-sensory impairment teacher as every day is different.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My role can include everything from running groups for pre-schoolers, attending family days in the community, offering support in a school, or working alongside families and professionals that want guidance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My role is to recognise a child\u2019s potential, the barriers they experience to learning, and figure out how we help them to fulfil their goals.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-multi-sensory-impairment-teacher\/\">Read Laura\u2019s blog about her role as an MSI teacher.<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-arrow-left-secondary\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sense&#8217;s investigation into the number of MSI teachers in England<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out more about the number of MSI teachers in England, we made a freedom of information request to local authorities in July 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We asked for information on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The support available for children with multi-sensory impairment in the area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The number of MSI teachers or practitioners currently employed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The weekly hours and salaries of these roles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We received 127 responses from local authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Region<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Local Authorities with no MSI teachers<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>East of England<\/td><td>40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>East Midlands<\/td><td>50%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Greater London<\/td><td>52%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>North East<\/td><td>40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>North West<\/td><td>81%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South East<\/td><td>27%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South West<\/td><td>55%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>West Midlands<\/td><td>55%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Yorkshire and the Humber<\/td><td>46%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>National average<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>52%<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-arrow-right-secondary\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What we found: There is a huge shortage of MSI teachers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Evidence gathered by Sense shows that over half (52%) of local authorities in England do not employ any MSI teachers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of these local authorities have teachers that specialise in sight impairments, or in hearing impairments. But this is not the same as specialist MSI support. There are unique challenges facing children who are deafblind.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a large variation in the support available across the country. This means that getting enough support for your child with MSI is a postcode lottery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In each region of England, this is the percentage of local authorities that <strong>do not<\/strong> employ any MSI teachers:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block  quoteWithImage  \">\n\t<figure class=\"quoteWithImage__image\">\n\t\t<div class=\"image--circle-masked\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image--circle-masked__container\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"263\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-350x263.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-small size-small\" alt=\"Euan cuddled by his mum Fiona\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-350x263.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-450x338.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-933x700.jpeg 933w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-533x400.jpeg 533w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1-600x450.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/euan-and-mum-fiona-1.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" style=\"object-position: 52.50% 32.57%;\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-textured-primary-tint-10 is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWithout the right support, Euan gets frustrated at school, and this sometimes leads to him acting out. It\u2019s not that he\u2019s a naughty child, but without having support from professionals that understand his needs, he can\u2019t keep up with lessons or games in the classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>Fiona, Euan&#8217;s mum<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-arrow-secondary\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Our recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2-1024x577.png\" alt=\"This graphic shows a pie chart, with the text:\n\nSense is calling for Government to introduce a \u00a334.3m MSI Education Fund\n\n\u00a34.8 million - Recruitment of teachers in areas with urgent need\n\u00a313.3 million - Filling remaining gaps in provision across England\n\u00a316.2 million - Maintaining current teachers in post\" class=\"wp-image-29276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2-768x433.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2-500x282.png 500w, https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/sense-msi-1200x675-Graphic-TW2.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The government should create a<strong> \u00a334.3 million MSI Education Fund <\/strong>of ring-fenced funding. This could change the lives of thousands of children with MSI in England.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This would include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a34.8 million to train and employ 21 MSI teachers in local authorities where thereis an urgent need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a313.3 million to fill the remaining gaps in provision, by training and employing 58 MSI teachers in local authorities where there is no current provision, but a less urgent need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a316.2 million to keep 73 MSI teachers in post across England.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"wp-block  box    is-style-textured-secondary-tint-10\">    <div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Find out more about our research<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have questions about our research, or would like to know more about our policy work in education, get in touch with our policy research team: <a href=\"mailto:policy.research@sense.org.uk\">policy.research@sense.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our latest research shows the urgent need for more multi-sensory impairment teachers across England.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":5950,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"content_label":[],"class_list":["post-28656","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28656\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"content_label","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_label?post=28656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}