Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Delivery: Rural Areas

Monday 28 November 2022 · 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

  • The Department of Education conducts special educational needs and disabilities inspections in rural areas by Ofsted.
  • The Department plans to publish a full response to the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper with an improvement plan early in the new year.
  • The Department supports empowering schools to enhance provision for SEND children in rural areas through proposed new standards.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Selaine Saxby
Children & Families
Context

The effectiveness of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) delivery is being scrutinised in rural areas due to unique challenges these regions face.

Question

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of SEND delivery in rural areas?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

All local authorities, including those in rural areas, undergo robust special educational needs and disabilities inspections by Ofsted. The Department is also planning to publish a full response to the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper with an improvement plan early in the new year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on how effectively SEND services are delivered in rural areas, despite mentioning inspections and plans for future improvements.

How: Under Review

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Q2 Selaine Saxby
Education Children & Families
Context

There is a belief among secondary school heads that further devolvement of responsibility away from local education authorities could significantly enhance special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision in their rural area.

Question

Many of my secondary school heads believe that, with the further devolvement of responsibility away from local education authorities, they could significantly enhance provision for SEND children. Would you agree to meet my school heads to discuss their ideas?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

Empowering schools is crucial for ensuring the right provision for SEND children in rural areas. The Department supports this through the proposed new standards based on evidence of what works, and will respond to any written requests from school heads.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer acknowledged the importance of empowerment but did not commit to a meeting with school heads specifically.

How: Under Review

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Q3 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Children & Families
Context

The community-run Ted Wragg Trust, which runs all secondary schools in the constituency of Exeter, proposed taking over a failing local school but was denied by the government.

Question

Could she explain—if not now, then perhaps in writing to me—why the Government did not listen to this very good idea to expand and improve local special educational needs provision in my constituency?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

The Department is working to improve all schools in terms of SEND needs across different sectors and will look into the specifics of this case and write back with further information.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer avoided providing an immediate explanation for the decision, instead committing to a written response at a later date.

How: Will Investigate

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

Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been waiting for the publication of the full results of the consultation on the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper, which has now surpassed several promised deadlines.

Question

Can the new Minister confirm when the full results of the consultation and the Government response will be published?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

The Department plans to publish early in the new year addressing many of the challenges currently faced by children with SEND and their families, including the full results of the consultation and the Government's response.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer provided a vague timeline without specific details on what 'early in the new year' means or any concrete commitments.

How: Vague Timeframe

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