Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Special Needs Education: Funding

Monday 23 October 2023 · 2 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Higher needs funding for children and young people with complex needs is increasing by 440 million next year, bringing the total budget to 10.5 billion in 2024-25.
  • The government has approved the opening of 78 special schools.
  • New data was collected from local authorities this year on capacity and demand forecast for special schools.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Laurence Robertson Con
Education
Context

The MP inquired about the current state of funding allocation and its sufficiency towards addressing special educational needs.

Question

What recent assessment has she made of the adequacy of funding for special needs education?

Answer from David Johnston

Higher needs funding for children and young people with complex needs is increasing by a further £440 million next year, bringing the total higher needs budget to £10.5 billion in 2024-25—60% higher than it was in 2019-20.

Answered
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Q2 Laurence Robertson Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP expressed concern over the shortage of school placements for children with special educational needs, noting that some students are being placed in mainstream schools despite requiring specialist education.

Question

I am grateful to the Minister for that response, and I heard the earlier responses, but there is a shortage of places in special needs schools—special schools for children who need those places. Will he carry out a national assessment of the number of places that are available in special schools against the number of places that are needed?

Answer from David Johnston

My hon. Friend makes an important point. We have approved the opening of 78 special schools, and this year we collected new data from local authorities on their capacity and demand forecast for special schools. That will help us to support them more effectively to fulfil their duty to provide sufficient places.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to a national assessment but provided information on recent actions taken.

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