Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pupils with SEN and Disabilities

Monday 11 December 2023 · 6 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department opened 14 new special free schools since March and approved 78 more.
  • Department is investing 21 million to train 400 additional educational psychologists.
  • NPQ for SENCOs will launch in autumn 2024 to support training in special educational needs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
Education Children & Families
Context

Since March, there has been an increase in the number of special free schools and a £70 million change programme launched. High-needs funding will be increased by 60%.

Question

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

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We want all children to receive the right support to reach their full potential. Since March, we have opened 14 new special free schools, with 78 more approved; launched a £70 million change programme, benefiting every region in England and testing key SEND and alternative provision; doubled the number of supported internships to 4,500 by 2025; increased high-needs funding by 60%, to over £10.5 billion.

Answered
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Q2 Sarah Green Lib Dem Chesham and Amersham
NHS Education
Context

One in three education, health and care plans were issued outside the legally required 20-week timeframe last year. Parents struggle to get support for their children.

Question

Last year in Buckinghamshire, one in three education, health and care plans were issued outside the legally required 20-week timeframe. Will the Secretary of State outline what concrete steps the Department is taking to improve access to educational psychologists and reduce waiting times for EHCPs?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are simplifying and standardising the EHCP process, boosting training opportunities through a new national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators launching in autumn 2024, investing £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists, and training up to 7,000 early years specialists. We now have 280,000 teaching assistants in our schools.

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Q3 Maria Miller Con
Education
Context

One in 10 children in education receives special educational needs support. A new special school and significant increases in budgets have been achieved.

Question

Can we ensure that supporting children with special needs is a mainstream part of teacher education?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We are developing a new NPQ for SENCOs, which will launch in autumn 2024, and inputting into the standards for teacher training to ensure that everybody has an understanding of how best to support children. There are now many children with special educational needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to integrate support for children with special needs into mainstream teacher education were not detailed

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Q4 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Education Children & Families
Context

Harsh and punitive disciplinary processes are having a harmful effect on children with special educational needs.

Question

Will the Secretary of State or the Schools Minister meet me to discuss a particular multi-academy trust where harsh disciplinary processes are negatively impacting young people?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Minister for children and families will be happy to meet the hon. Lady.

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Q5 Jake Berry Con
Children & Families
Context

Parents are waiting long periods to see an educational psychologist, causing their children to miss school and not access education, health and care plans.

Question

Will the Secretary of State agree to write to Lancashire County Council to find out what is going on with parents whose children are missing school due to delays in accessing an EHCP?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I am very happy to work with my right hon. Friend to improve things in Lancashire.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to writing the specific letter was not given

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Q6 Helen Hayes Lab Dulwich and West Norwood
Education
Context

Trainees for September 2024 have been left in limbo due to delays in confirming available funding. The number of educational psychologists has fallen since 2010.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that this uncertainty about Government funding for educational psychology training is unacceptable, and when does she expect it to be resolved?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

We announced in November 2022 that a further £21 million was going to be spent to train more than 400 educational psychologists.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific agreement on the unacceptability of funding uncertainty and timeline for resolution were not provided

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