Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEN Providers: Rural Areas

Monday 27 February 2023 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government introduced additional payments for small and remote mainstream schools, currently benefiting 23 schools in Rutland and Melton.
  • Last year, 13 million was invested with a further 2.5 million this year for autism assessment pathways.
  • 15 billion has been spent on school building conditions since 2015, with additional funds for capacity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Education Children & Families
Context

The question is prompted by the need to provide additional financial support for schools in rural areas dealing with special educational needs.

Question

If her Department will provide additional financial support to special educational needs providers in rural areas. Families in my constituency are waiting 40 weeks for a special educational needs assessment, far beyond the six-week statutory period.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Government introduced additional payments for small and remote mainstream schools, currently benefiting 23 schools in Rutland and Melton. An extra £2 billion pounds was announced for schools next year and the year after, including £400 million to support high needs budgets from April.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting local councils and schools in Rutland and Stamford

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Q2 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
NHS Children & Families
Context

Families in the constituency are waiting an average of 40 weeks for a special educational needs assessment, which is far beyond the six-week statutory period.

Question

The families my team and I support are sometimes waiting 40 weeks for a special educational needs assessment. May I invite the Secretary of State to meet local councils and schools in order to understand why we have so many difficulties?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

Last year, £13 million was invested with a further £2.5 million this year for autism assessment pathways. NHS England is developing national guidance to improve access to autism assessments and we are committed to looking at improving data on ADHD assessment waiting times.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting local councils and schools in Rutland and Stamford

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Q3 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Education Housing
Context

A special school in Oxfordshire closed due to unsafe buildings, and since the general election, 39 schools have partly or fully closed for similar reasons. Funding for maintaining school buildings has been cut by 4% in real terms.

Question

Special schools and mainstream schools are closing because their buildings were deemed unsafe. With funding cuts, how will Ministers assure parents that children's safety is prioritized and buildings are fit for purpose?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

£15 billion has been spent on school building conditions since 2015, with additional funds for capacity. Structural engineers are assessing schools to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific plan or commitment addressing the current issues with school closures due to unsafe buildings

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