Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Provision

Monday 23 October 2023 · 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 6 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department published an improvement plan in March to transform support for children with special educational needs.
  • The Department is increasing high needs funding by 60% since 2019-20, with regional change programme partnerships launched to drive reform.
  • The Department aims to reduce reliance on education, health and care plans by providing earlier support to families.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Children & Families

Question

What steps her Department is taking to improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Answer from David Johnston

In March, we published our improvement plan to transform support for children with special educational needs, and last month we launched nine regional change programme partnerships to drive reform. By 2024-25, we will have increased high needs funding by 60% since 2019-20, and we have approved the opening of 78 special free schools.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Andrew Lewer Con
Children & Families
Context

Local authorities have spent nearly a quarter of a billion pounds fighting parents at SEND tribunals since 2014, yet they have a failure rate of over 90%. This has caused distress for parents in Northampton South.

Question

What steps is the Department taking to overhaul that process, which has caused special educational needs and disabilities parents in Northampton South unnecessary distress?

Answer from David Johnston

My hon. Friend is right to say that tribunals are costly and stressful, but it is important to say that most education, health and care needs assessments and plans are concluded without a tribunal hearing. We will be introducing new national standards, strengthened mediation and greater system-wide accountability to give families the support they need earlier and reduce the number of tribunals.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 Peter Aldous Con
Education Children & Families
Context

There is a campaign called f40 urging significant investment in SEN, which I signed.

Question

Will my hon. Friend endorse that campaign and also look at how we can reduce the reliance on education, health and care plans?

Answer from David Johnston

It is probably worth saying that I am an f40 MP myself, and I met the group just last week to hear its concerns. On my hon. Friend's point about EHCPs, through the reform plan we are working to get parents the support they need for their child at an earlier stage so that they do not always need an EHCP to get that support.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q4 Valerie Vaz Lab Walsall and Bloxwich
Education
Context

There is a crisis in funding for SEND in Walsall South, with Old Church Primary having 78 pupils with special needs, which is 19% of the school total.

Question

How can the Minister target the funding to the schools that really need it? Does he agree that when Ofsted inspects, it should take into account children with special needs?

Answer from David Johnston

The right hon. Lady makes an important point about the role of Ofsted and ensuring that it assesses that provision. It is worth saying that there will have been a 36% per-head increase in Walsall between 2021-22 and 2024-25, but I would be happy to meet her to discuss the issue further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific targeting of funding not addressed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q5 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Education Children & Families
Context

Thanks to Government support, local Conservatives in the London Borough of Bexley have secured an incredible £39.5 million to expand and improve SEND provision.

Question

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is vital that local authorities, charities, schools and families work closely together to maximise the educational impact of this Government-backed funding?

Answer from David Johnston

My hon. Friend makes an important point, and I pay tribute to his campaigning on this issue and to the work of Bexley council. It is absolutely the case that people should be engaging not just with schools and families but with local charities, which are often best placed to understand the needs of families and their children.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q6 Keir Mather Lab Selby
Education Children & Families
Context

Families in Selby and Ainsty have been waiting nearly half a decade for spades in the ground at a new SEND school.

Question

Will the Minister meet me to ensure that there are no further delays to this vital project?

Answer from David Johnston

The hon. Gentleman and I have exchanged letters about this matter. We remain absolutely committed to the school and I would be happy to meet him to discuss it further.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q7 Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth
Children & Families
Context

The SEND crisis extends to Devon, with children being taught in school cupboards. A SEND champion has been appointed to the cabinet.

Question

What steps is the Department taking to help boost SEND services in rural areas such as mine?

Answer from David Johnston

There has been a 30% increase in the per-head funding to schools in Devon for their special educational needs provision, and the whole thrust of our reform plan is to make the system work better for parents and families and get the support for their children at the stage when they need it.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q8 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Children & Families
Context

The Secretary of State described the SEND system over which her Government have been presiding for the last 13 years as costing a fortune without providing the right service.

Question

When does the Minister expect the plans that the Government have announced for SEND to make a difference to the long waiting times and lack of support experienced by so many families across the country?

Answer from David Johnston

We have already begun the reform programme and have just launched the nine change partnerships, which are already starting to make a difference to the provision. I would just say to the hon. Lady that this is yet another area where the Labour party has absolutely no policies whatsoever.

Not addressed: Timelines for making a difference not addressed

How: Criticising Opposition

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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