SEND System Effectiveness 2024-11-04
2024-11-04
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP notes concerns about the effectiveness of the SEND support system, citing a National Audit Office assessment confirming issues with the inherited system from the Conservatives.
What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the system for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities?
Last month, the National Audit Office confirmed that the SEND system inherited from the Conservatives is broken. Families face a significant challenge, and we are working to make necessary changes as quickly as possible despite the complexity of reform.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on recent assessments or concrete steps taken.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the adversarial nature of the EHCP process and its inadequacy in assessing needs, questioning how to ensure that reform involves parent voices.
How can we be sure that the voices of parents and children will remain at the heart of any policy change as reforms are made?
We engage with children, young people, parents, and carers through our participation contract. Next week I will meet the National Young People's Group to hear their views and experiences on the policy changes.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address how voices would be prioritized in reforms specifically.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP organised a SEND surgery where it was evident that different public bodies were not collaborating as intended by the Children and Families Act 2014, leading to long delays and distress.
Will the Minister agree to receive representations from young people and families in south Birmingham so their negative experiences can contribute to reforming the SEND system?
Absolutely, we are committed to working with families to improve the SEND system. We will ensure that they have access to free and impartial support to participate in decisions affecting them, and I welcome suggestions from my hon. Friend on how to improve the system.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a specific commitment for engagement with youth and families.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights a crisis of capacity for SEND provision in the state sector and questions if VAT exemption should be granted to schools funding SEND children.
Surely the right thing to do is grant a VAT exemption on SEND children to ease the crisis?
We are committed to ensuring that pupils with needs requiring private schooling are not impacted by this policy. Local authorities can reclaim VAT charged on fees where the place is funded due to state sector incapacity.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address VAT exemption directly but provided a solution for local authority funding issues.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP references Hertfordshire's third-lowest national SEND funding and a 223% increase in children with EHCPs since 2015, questioning if current funding reflects need.
Does the Minister agree that funding should reflect the current need?
High-needs funding will increase by nearly £1 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25, bringing total high-needs funding to £11.9 billion. The national funding formula for distribution will be announced later this month.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly answer whether the current need would dictate funding but provided future funding figures and plans.
Response accuracy