Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND: Support

Monday 11 March 2024 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Daniel Zeichner inquired about the financial and staffing struggles of schools in Cambridgeshire for pupils with special educational needs.
  • Daniel Zeichner raised concerns about a constituent's access to free transport under the blue badge scheme before 9:30 am.
  • Selaine Saxby questioned the adequacy of local authorities' provision for high-quality early years education for children with special educational needs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights the increasing financial strain on schools due to an increase in SEND pupils, noting issues with staffing and support services. He points out that this is a systemic problem requiring attention.

Question

I visit schools in my constituency virtually every week, and I see more and more of them struggling financially and with staff for SEND pupils. Too many staff members are having to go out and fetch children to bring them to school in the mornings, and needing to have social workers based in their schools. This is not about individual schools; it is a systemic problem. What are the Government doing about it?

Answer from David Johnston

In Cambridgeshire, there has been a 27% increase in funding per head for special educational needs since 2021-22 and a special free school is in the pipeline, along with two local authority special competition free schools. Cambridgeshire is also part of our safety valve programme, which helps authorities to run a sustainable special educational needs system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The systemic issues faced by schools due to an increase in SEND pupils were not directly addressed with specific measures or commitments beyond local funding increases and school planning.

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Q2 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

A constituent named Ella Wakley faces difficulty due to her blue badge not allowing free transport until after the school day starts, affecting both her and her assistant.

Question

I wonder whether my hon. Friend might be able to help my constituent Ella Wakley, who is disabled and travels to her college on the bus, but her blue badge does not allow free transport for her and her assistant until 9.30 am, which is a little late for the start of the school day.

Answer from David Johnston

I do not know the specifics of the case that my hon. Friend raises, but if she writes to me, I will happily look at it.

Not addressed: The issue was completely avoided without any substantive response or commitment.

How: If You Write To Me, I Will Look Into It

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Q3 Selaine Saxby
Children & Families
Context

Only one in five local authorities reported having enough childcare places for disabled children last year, a situation the MP deems as shameful.

Question

High-quality early years education can be transformational for children with special educational needs, helping to ensure that they are identified and supported at the most important time for their development. But last year fewer than one in five local authorities in England reported having enough childcare places for disabled children. That is a shameful failure. Is the Minister confident that families with a disabled child will be able to access the childcare to which they are entitled from April?

Answer from David Johnston

We are doing two things in this regard. First, we are reviewing the special educational needs inclusion fund as we roll out the new entitlements to ensure that it is working appropriately. Secondly, we have provided a contractor. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide places for all children, including those with special educational needs, and the contractor will work with local authorities to ensure that is done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The confidence in access to early years education was not addressed specifically; instead, it focused on reviewing funds and ensuring statutory duties are met.

How: We Are Reviewing The Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund, We Have Provided A Contractor

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