Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Education for Children with SEND

Monday 1 March 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department increased high-needs funding by 780 million this year and another 730 million next year.
  • Additional 700 million recovery funding can be used by schools for extra support for children with special educational needs.
  • Teachers in special schools are entitled to a covid jab, and the department provided bespoke advice on testing for children with special educational needs and their families.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nigel Mills Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on children with special educational needs, highlighting the need for increased funding and support to ensure they receive a quality education.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that children with special educational needs and disabilities receive a quality education. The pandemic has been especially hard for these children and their families, requiring additional support and resources.

Answer from Vicky Ford

The Department increased high-needs funding by £780 million this year, with another £730 million next year—a 24% increase. The SEND review is focusing on ensuring that the system supports and delivers for every child.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about steps being taken to help ensure quality education was only partially addressed with funding details, without a direct mention of other concrete actions.

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Q2 Henry Smith Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP inquires about educational support provided to children with dyslexia due to school closures caused by the pandemic.

Question

What particular educational support is being provided to children with dyslexia through the covid-19 pandemic restrictions? The impact of school closures on children with special education needs, including dyslexia, may have been greater than for other children.

Answer from Vicky Ford

The additional £700 million of recovery funding can be used by schools for extra support for those with SEND. Of the 33 providers on the national tutoring programme, 26 have specific expertise in supporting children with special educational needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about support for dyslexic children was only partially addressed by mentioning general recovery funding and tutoring programmes, without direct focus on dyslexia-specific measures.

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Q3 Nigel Mills Con
Education
Context

The MP highlights the efforts of teachers in special schools supporting children with complex disabilities during the pandemic and asks about vaccination eligibility and additional support measures.

Question

I know from the three special schools in my constituency what an amazing job the teachers do to support children and young people with complex disabilities, as well as special educational needs. Will the Minister confirm that all teachers in those settings are entitled to a covid jab? What else can the Government do to support schools to be covid-secure?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I thank all schools, especially those special schools that have helped to care for vulnerable children throughout the pandemic. Attendance has risen. We provided bespoke advice on testing children with special educational needs and families of all pupils with access to home testing. Decisions about vaccine eligibility are made locally where a teacher is supporting a clinically extremely vulnerable child.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about confirmation of vaccination eligibility for teachers was only partially addressed, with local decisions mentioned without clear guidelines or commitments.

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