Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children with SEND and their Families: Support

Monday 16 January 2023 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department plans to publish a full response to the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper in an improvement plan early in the year.
  • The Minister assured that the response to the SEND review consultation will be published imminently, while also rolling out mental health training in all schools.
  • The reforms in the SEND Green Paper include clear standards about what help children with different SEND needs should receive at school, aiming to provide parents with greater transparency and accountability.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Johnston
Education Children & Families
Context

The question arises from concerns over support mechanisms for children in school with SEND needs. There are no specific incidents or statistics mentioned but the general context is dissatisfaction with current provision.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to support schools with pupils with special educational needs?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

All children, no matter their special educational need or disability, deserve the right support to be able to succeed. We will be publishing a full response to the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper in an improvement plan early this year, and we continue to work closely with children, families and education, healthcare and local government sectors on this very important issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete steps or specific measures being taken currently, only a promise of publishing more information in the future.

How: Promising To Publish More Details Later

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Q2 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Mental Health Children & Families
Context

The context is provided on Blue Monday, emphasizing the urgency of mental health support and the delays in assessment and support for children facing SEND issues.

Question

Today is Blue Monday... will the Minister please get a move on and bring forward the response to the SEND review consultation? Children should not have to wait any longer.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I can assure the hon. Lady that we are working incredibly hard, and we will be publishing a response imminently. In the meantime, we are rolling out training on mental health to all schools across the country, and I am working very hard with my counterparts at the Department for Health and Social Care to make sure that, when we look at the proposals on SEND, they are brought fully into the picture as well.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acknowledged urgency but did not commit to a specific timeline or immediate action beyond confirming work is being done.

How: Assuring Urgent Work, Acknowledging Delays

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Q3 David Johnston
Children & Families
Context

Parents in Oxfordshire are dissatisfied with the county council's handling of emails and errors in EHC plans, as well as long delays in receiving these plans. This leads to a lack of early support for children.

Question

Many parents in Oxfordshire are unhappy... What steps is she taking to address this?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

My hon. Friend has raised this issue with me several time. One key part of the reforms set out in the SEND Green Paper will be clear standards about what help children with different SEND needs should be getting at school. That will give parents greater transparency and accountability regarding what their child should reasonably get, and also means that children will get the early help that my hon. Friend so rightly talks about.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures for Oxfordshire but outlined general reforms in progress.

How: Mentioning General Reforms

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Q4 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Children & Families
Context

Devon's children's services have faced issues for years, particularly in the realm of special educational needs. A recent inspector's report was critical and a new head of children's services has been appointed.

Question

The Minister will be aware... Will the Minister make clear to the political leadership of Devon County Council that if things do not improve quickly, she will have no hesitation in stripping Devon of its responsibility for children's services?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

We work with all areas that are struggling to provide SEND services through our regions group work, our delivering better value programmes, and our safety valve programmes. I will, of course, look at the issue carefully, and we always step in and act when we need to.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly commit to any action or timeline for intervention.

How: Mentioning Existing Programmes

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Q5 Jonathan Gullis
Children & Families Local Government
Context

A new school is being built with government investment to provide 80 additional SEND places, creating opportunities for young people to remain in their local area.

Question

One of the best ways... Will my hon. Friend congratulate Councillor Janine Bridges from Stoke-on-Trent City Council on that amazing work?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I absolutely commend the work of Councillor Janine Bridges. It sounds as if she is doing a tremendous job to increase the number of places for SEND children. I would also be delighted to come and see whether I can open the school.

Answered
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