Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Children

Monday 6 December 2021 · 4 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister celebrated the Second Reading of the Down Syndrome Bill, which aims to improve services and life outcomes for people with Down's syndrome.
  • Local authorities will receive support in implementing the Bill to improve services for people with Down's syndrome.
  • The high needs funding budget was increased by 750 million each year for the previous three years, with an additional 1.6 billion provided by the 2021 spending review.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Elliot Colburn
Education Children & Families
Context

The question is prompted by the need to support children with SEND, including those in areas like Carshalton and Wallington where new guidance for Down's syndrome is being celebrated. However, there are concerns about its implementation due to issues in some councils.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities receive a quality education? I was pleased to celebrate with Carshalton and Wallington families the Second Reading of the Down Syndrome Bill—a legislative milestone that will require schools and councils, among others, to take account of new guidance. Unfortunately, in councils such as Lib Dem-run Sutton Council, which has been slammed by Ofsted for its diabolical management of SEND services, there is concern about the implementation of the new guidance.

Answer from Will Quince

Sutton was revisited by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in 2020 and was found to have made progress in all previously identified areas of weakness. The Bill aims to improve services and life outcomes for people with Down's syndrome, and we will support local authorities in the implementation of any future reforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to ensure failing councils do not undermine the new guidance were not addressed

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Q2 Elliot Colburn
Children & Families
Context

There are concerns about the implementation of new guidance for supporting children with Down's syndrome, particularly in councils like Sutton that have faced criticism from Ofsted.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that failing local authorities do not scupper the potential for this important Bill to unlock new opportunities for children with Down's syndrome?

Answer from Will Quince

Sutton was revisited by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in 2020 and was found to have made progress in all previously identified areas of weakness. The Bill aims to improve services and life outcomes for people with Down's syndrome, and we will support local authorities in the implementation of any future reforms.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to ensure failing councils do not undermine the new guidance were not addressed

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Q3 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Children & Families
Context

Prior to the pandemic, there was a crisis in SEND provision that has worsened. Many families are waiting beyond the legal deadline for an assessment of their child's education, health, and care plan.

Question

Prior to the pandemic, there was a crisis in SEND provision, and it has only got worse—from bureaucratic hurdles to children having to face long delays before being assessed. It is having a devastating impact: 27% of families waiting for an EHC plan assessment are waiting for more than six months, despite the legal deadline of 20 weeks. What action is he taking to ensure that children are assessed within the legal deadline and provided with the appropriate support they need in school?

Answer from Will Quince

We have increased the high needs funding budget by £750 million a year for each of the previous three years. The spending review of 2021 provides a further £1.6 billion to that budget, an extra £2.6 billion in capital funding, and an extra £42 million.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Measures to ensure assessments are completed within legal deadlines were not addressed

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Q4 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Children & Families
Context

Children with SEND have faced significant challenges during the past two years. Many are still waiting to receive provision specified in their education, health and care plans.

Question

The past two years have been incredibly difficult for children with special educational needs and disability. While the Government continue to delay the publication of the long-awaited SEND review, families are suffering now. Some 15,000 children with an EHC plan are still waiting to receive the provision specified in their plan, and more than 40% of plans are not issued within the statutory 20-week period. What is the Minister doing now to support children with SEND and their families who are suffering while this Government continue to let them down?

Answer from Will Quince

We have provided additional uplifts for those who attend specialist settings; we have invested that extra £42 million. I accept that the SEND review is taking longer than we wanted it to, but it is a priority for me and for the Government, and there will be a report in the first quarter of next year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate measures to address delays were not provided; focus was on future review publication

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