Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

School Places: Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Monday 28 November 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 4 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Department investing 2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to increase school places and improve provision for pupils with SEND.
  • Ofsted revising its framework to better appraise mainstream schools on the support they give to children with special needs.
  • Minister considering a visit to Ipswich to discuss funding formula adjustments for better SEND funding and provision in Suffolk.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tom Hunt
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about ensuring sufficient school places for children with SEND in his constituency.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to increase the number of school places for pupils with (a) special educational needs and (b) disabilities. I am seeking information on specific measures being taken to improve provision for these students.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

We are making a transformational investment in SEND places by investing £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025 to help deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision as well as up to 60 new special and AP free schools.

Answered
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Q2 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Education
Context

The MP supports the investment but raises concerns about accountability.

Question

Does the Minister agree that parents need proper accountability for the performance of the schools their children are going to, and will she encourage Ofsted to do more to appraise mainstream schools on the support they give to children with special needs. I am seeking confirmation on whether the minister supports better accountability measures.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner for Wiltshire and I applaud the council on the work it is doing. Ofsted is revising its framework on this area, which was set out in the Green Paper earlier this year. My hon. Friend might be interested to know that we are also looking at better local and national dashboards to improve local accountability.

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Q3 Luke Evans Con Hinckley and Bosworth
Children & Families
Context

The MP notes difficulties faced by parents in obtaining proper support.

Question

Will that be put at the heart of the review? Secondly, the Minister talked about the £2.6 billion. How can the likes of Leicestershire get hold of some of that cash to improve one of the biggest areas of struggle in SEND provision. I am seeking clarification on local accountability and funding.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend is right that many parents find the system adversarial. That is one of the key things we are seeking to address by making what parents can expect much clearer and by simplifying and digitising their EHCP—education, health and care plan—application process, among our other measures. Meanwhile, Leicestershire will continue to be supported through its delivering better value programme, among other things.

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Q4 Tom Hunt
Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights recent developments in special schools and seeks further support.

Question

Will the Minister visit Ipswich to meet me and the heads of both schools to discuss how the funding formula could be tweaked to ensure that Suffolk SEND is fairly funded and that we have more top-quality places in special schools for the wonderful neuro-diverse thinkers in Ipswich. I am requesting a meeting to address specific funding concerns.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend has spoken to me multiple times about the excellent school provision in his area, and I would be delighted to visit and see more for myself.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific funding formula adjustments not addressed

How: Delighted To Visit

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Q5 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report on children from low-income backgrounds.

Question

Given that Barnsley has one of the highest numbers of EHCPs in the country, can she guarantee that she will move heaven and earth to make sure schools have the resources they need for this specialist provision. I am seeking assurances regarding resource allocation.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

We absolutely need to address the plight of low-income families struggling with the system when their children have SEND. The amount of funding that has gone into the SEND high needs block has risen by 40% over the last three years, so we are putting the funding in, but we absolutely need to ensure that it is going to the right families.

Partly answered

Not addressed: guarantee not provided, just acknowledges issue

How: We Are Putting The Funding In

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Q6 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Education Employment Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about retention rates for SEND teaching assistants due to low pay.

Question

What steps are Ministers taking to improve both recruitment and retention rates for SEND teaching assistants. I am seeking information on measures being taken to address this issue.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I point to the £2 billion extra funding that is going into the schools system next year and the year after as well as the huge increase of funding that I just mentioned going into the SEND sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific steps for retention not addressed

How: Pointing To General Funding

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Q7 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Energy Children & Families
Context

The MP acknowledges extra money but notes concerns about energy bills impacting budgets.

Question

Will she meet us to discuss that further. I am seeking a meeting to address specific issues affecting support for SEND students.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

As I have mentioned, there is extra money going into the schools system, which was set out in the autumn statement. The energy relief scheme, which is helping schools with their energy bills, will also last throughout the winter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific meeting request not addressed

How: Extra Money Going Into System

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Q8 Robin Walker Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights issues of missing education due to lack of local provision.

Question

What progress has been made in spending the billions of extra high needs capital announced at the spending review. When can we expect more provision in Worcestershire. I am seeking information on specific spending and future plans for Worcestershire.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

In March we announced £1.4 billion of high needs provision capital allocations, of which Worcestershire is receiving just over £10.7 million between 2022 and 2024 to help create new places in both mainstream and special schools. It is up to the local authority to determine how best to use that funding.

Answered
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