Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Support

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

  • Minister pledged to invest 2.6 billion to increase specialist school places across the UK.
  • Government plans to respond to the SEND and AP Green Paper within the next week.
  • Funding for special educational needs has increased by 50% over the past three years.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the provision of education for children with SEND in his constituency.

Question

What steps she is taking to improve the provision of education for students with special educational needs and disabilities. We struggle with SEND provision in Cheshire, both in terms of special school places and support for children in school.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Springfield School on its outstanding achievement—he has often bent my ear about the head, Lisa Hodgkison, and the tremendous work she is doing there. We are investing £2.6 billion to increase the number of specialist school places across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide specific steps taken in relation to the expansion of Springfield School in Bexhill and Battle, nor addressed how these measures would support local special educational needs provision.

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Q2 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Children & Families
Context

The MP met a constituent who is a teacher at a SEND school, expressing concerns about struggling budgets affecting pupil support.

Question

In Lewisham, increased need is costing £5 million a year more than the council's SEND budget. When next week—if I heard that right—will the Government finally follow up on their Green Paper and publish their plans to fix this mess? Those vulnerable children and their families need proper support.

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I will be responding to the SEND and AP Green Paper within the next week. We have increased funding massively in this area—it is up by 50% in the past three years.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging an upcoming response, the answer did not provide a specific timeline for when plans would be published or how the £5 million shortfall in Lewisham would be addressed.

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Q3 Kieran Mullan Con Bexhill and Battle
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the provision of education for children with SEND in his constituency, particularly regarding Springfield School's upcoming expansion.

Question

We struggle with SEND provision in Cheshire, both in terms of special school places and support for children in school. Can the Minister outline the steps that the Government have taken to increase provision to build on the upcoming expansion of Springfield School in my constituency?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Springfield School on its outstanding achievement—he has often bent my ear about the head, Lisa Hodgkison, and the tremendous work she is doing there. We are investing £2.6 billion to increase the number of specialist school places across the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not provide specific steps taken in relation to the expansion of Springfield School in Bexhill and Battle, nor addressed how these measures would support local special educational needs provision.

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How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)