Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Provision

Monday 29 April 2024 · 5 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • York receives a 27 percent increase in per-head funding over the last three years through the safety valve programme.
  • Labour's proposal to impose 20 percent VAT on independent special schools could make provision harder to afford and increase demand for state special school places.
  • The Government are creating 60,000 more special school places, with 108 schools having opened and 92 approved to open.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Children & Families
Context

The MP notes the inadequacy of SEND provision in York, with growing numbers of children requiring support and staff layoffs due to insufficient funding.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of special educational needs provision? The inequality in the funding formula is driving inequality for children with SEN. In York, we see not only a lack of placements but also staff being laid off because of inadequate funding. We know that the number of children with SEND is growing exponentially in York.

Answer from David Johnston

York is in our safety valve programme providing support for financial challenges. It has seen a 27% increase in per-head funding over the last three years. We review the funding formula every year, but the historic factor complaint makes it hard to reduce quickly because of current provision.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specifically requested review and power to local authorities not addressed directly

How: Reviewing Funding Formula Each Year

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Q2 Tom Hunt
Education Taxation
Context

Concerns raised by a chain of independent schools CEO about the potential VAT increase on school fees, impacting families with special educational needs.

Question

Last week, I met the chief executive of an independent school chain concerned about proposals to put VAT on school fees. This could raise fees and force parents to remove children from these schools, increasing pressure on state education SEND systems. Does the Minister share concern that this policy may harm those with SEN in low-income households?

Answer from David Johnston

My hon. Friend is right; Labour's ideological stance on private schools means it would impose 20% VAT on children in independent special schools, making provision harder to afford and increasing demand for state special school places.

Not addressed: specific concern about VAT policy not addressed

How: Attacking Labour'S Stance, Describing Impact Of Policy

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Q3 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Children & Families
Context

Concern about York's lack of placements and staff layoffs due to insufficient funding, along with growing number of children needing support.

Question

The inequality in the funding formula is driving inequality for children with SEN. In York, we see not only a lack of placements but also staff being laid off because of inadequate funding. We know that the number of children with SEND is growing exponentially in York.

Answer from David Johnston

York receives a 27% increase in per-head funding over three years, part of our safety valve programme. We review the funding formula annually; however, addressing the historic factor complaint is challenging due to current provision.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specifically requested review and power not addressed directly

How: Annual Reviews

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Q4 Mark Garnier Con Wyre Forest
Education
Context

Wyre Forest School and Baxter College seek expedited building programme to expand capacity for a mutually beneficial project, currently set for 2032.

Question

Wyre Forest School in Kidderminster has been running past maximum capacity. The potential for relief was seen with funding from the school rebuilding programme for Baxter College's expansion next door. However, this project is in phase 3 and may not see completion until 2032. Will the Minister or Secretary of State meet to expedite getting this rebuilding programme under way?

Answer from David Johnston

I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend.

Answered
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Q5 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Children & Families
Context

A family recently moved within Shropshire to North Shropshire, where their year 9 son with special educational needs faced a delay of ten weeks for placement without one-to-one support.

Question

On Saturday, I met a lady who had moved her child within Shropshire to North Shropshire but waited ten weeks for his school placement. The new placement lacks one-to-one support compared to the previous situation. Can the Minister reassure me that the Government are looking at Shropshire and working to provide proper provision for those children, who are being so badly let down?

Answer from David Johnston

We are creating 60,000 more special school places; currently, 108 schools have opened and 92 approved to open.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific reassurance not provided

How: General Provision Increases

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