Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children with SEND: Specialist Teachers

Monday 14 March 2022 · 2 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kate Osborne asked about steps being taken to ensure adequate numbers of specialist teachers for children with SEND.
  • Research shows that children from disadvantaged areas are less likely to be identified as having SEND compared to those from more affluent areas.
  • The minister stated that teachers are being equipped and given confidence to identify and teach children with SEND as part of the SEND review.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Children & Families
Context

None specified, but the question pertains to ensuring adequate numbers of specialist teachers for students with SEND.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure that there are adequate numbers of specialist teachers to support children with SEND.

Answer from Will Quince

We are committed to ensuring that all pupils can reach their potential and receive excellent support from their teachers. Our reformed initial teacher training content framework and the new early career framework, both developed with sector experts, will equip teachers with a clear understanding of the needs of children with SEND.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or measures to increase the number of specialist teachers for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

How: We Are Committed

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Q2 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow and Gateshead East
Education
Context

Research by the Education Policy Institute found that children from the most disadvantaged areas are less likely to be identified as having SEND than children from more affluent areas, facing higher thresholds for accessing support.

Question

Research by the Education Policy Institute found that children from the most disadvantaged areas are less likely to be identified as having SEND than children from more affluent areas, with families in poorer areas facing higher thresholds to accessing support. Why is that the case and what is the Minister's Department doing about it?

Answer from Will Quince

All teachers are teachers of SEND. We are doing a lot of work, and we will do as part of the SEND review, to ensure that teachers are equipped—but not just equipped, that they have confidence—to teach and identify special educational needs. All I would say, as I have said a few times, is that the hon. Lady should wait a handful more days for the SEND review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific explanations or measures addressing the disparity in identification of children with SEND across different socio-economic backgrounds and did not commit to providing information beyond the release date of the SEND review.

How: We Are Doing A Lot Of Work

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