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The Government today pledged more support for trainee teachers looking to work with severely disabled children.

Under the initiative, top graduates will be brought into special schools for first-hand experience, while additional training will be given through a new course.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls outlined the plans in response to a Government-commissioned review conducted by Toby Salt, deputy chief executive and strategic director at the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services.

Mr Salt called for more to be done to attract and retain teachers who want to teach children with profound learning difficulties in both special and mainstream schools.

Speaking at the Association of School and College Leaders conference, Mr Balls announced a new partnership with Teach First to bring graduates into schools to attain the skills required.

He also vowed additional training, a six-month course and arrangements to collect data on skilled teachers to better manage their numbers in the future.

Mr Balls said it was important that the Government "act now to grow the next generation of teachers in our schools, particularly special schools".

He added: "All children have potential and we want to support them to take part in school life, to achieve and to be happy throughout their education.

"That is why we are working to provide more and better training opportunities for graduates and newly qualified teachers and to monitor the supply of specially trained teachers so all young people with severe learning difficulties get the education they deserve."