Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND Provision: Bournemouth

Monday 29 April 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 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Tobias Ellwood raised concerns about the adequacy of SEND provision in Bournemouth schools and the council's handling of dedicated school grants.
  • The Minister responded that he and officials are monitoring the situation closely to ensure that schools and children in Bournemouth get the provision they deserve.
  • Tobias Ellwood requested data on the number of children with acquired brain injuries who have relied on SEND provision in Bournemouth schools over the past five years, to which the Minister promised to provide a written response.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tobias Ellwood Con
Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the adequacy of SEND provisions in Bournemouth's schools, where headteachers and parents have expressed frustration over the mismanagement of dedicated school grants by BCP Council.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of SEND provision in schools in Bournemouth? There is growing anger from headteachers and parents about the council's handling of dedicated school grants. The council demands unaffordable sums from schools, leading to potential loss of teaching assistants. I ask for an investigation into the council's decision-making to ensure funding stays with schools.

Answer from David Johnston

My right hon. Friend has done an excellent job of raising with me repeatedly the frustration of parents and headteachers in his constituency with BCP Council. I and officials continue to monitor that closely to ensure that schools and children in his area get the provision they deserve.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an investigation into the council's decision making was not addressed directly, only a commitment to monitor the situation was given.

How: Monitoring, Closely

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Q2 Tobias Ellwood Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The MP inquires about children who have relied on SEND provision due to an acquired brain injury in the last five years, raising concerns over the lack of data on such cases.

Question

How many children in schools in Bournemouth have relied on special educational needs and disability provision because they had an acquired brain injury in the last five years? If the Minister does not know this answer today, will he be able to write back with it? If his officials cannot provide him with the answer, will he ensure that the Department establishes how many children across all schools have had an acquired brain injury in the last five years?

Answer from David Johnston

I did not know the hon. Gentleman's constituency was so close to Bournemouth. As he suggests, I do not have the precise answer to that question; I will write to him.

Answered
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Q3 Chris Bryant Lab Rhondda and Ogmore
Education Local Government
Context

The MP notes the increase in funding but expresses concern over its effective use by BCP Council, highlighting significant dissatisfaction among headteachers and parents regarding recent management of dedicated school grants.

Question

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. He speaks about increased funding, but there is growing anger from headteachers and parents alike in Bournemouth about the mismanagement of the dedicated schools grant over the past couple of years by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. School heads have now taken the unprecedented step of writing open letters of concern to the council. The council is not following the required guidance and is demanding unaffordable sums from schools which, if implemented, would see the loss of teaching assistants. I ask the Department for Education to investigate the council's decision making, to ensure that correct guidelines are followed in the future and that the right levels of funding stay with the schools.

Answer from David Johnston

My right hon. Friend has done an excellent job of raising with me repeatedly the frustration of parents and headteachers in his constituency with BCP Council. I and officials continue to monitor that closely to ensure that schools and children in his area get the provision they deserve.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for an investigation was not directly addressed, only a commitment to monitor the situation was provided.

How: Monitoring, Closely

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