Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

SEND System: Effectiveness

Monday 4 November 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 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The National Audit Office confirmed that the SEND system is broken and families face significant challenges.
  • Engagement with children, young people, parents, and carers is ensured through a participation contract.
  • Meetings are scheduled to hear views and experiences on policy changes, including one with the National Young People's Group.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Laurence Turner Lab Birmingham Northfield
Children & Families
Context

The MP notes concerns about the effectiveness of the SEND support system, citing a National Audit Office assessment confirming issues with the inherited system from the Conservatives.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the system for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Last month, the National Audit Office confirmed that the SEND system inherited from the Conservatives is broken. Families face a significant challenge, and we are working to make necessary changes as quickly as possible despite the complexity of reform.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on recent assessments or concrete steps taken.

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Q2 Sarah Smith Lab Hyndburn
Children & Families
Context

The MP is concerned about the adversarial nature of the EHCP process and its inadequacy in assessing needs, questioning how to ensure that reform involves parent voices.

Question

How can we be sure that the voices of parents and children will remain at the heart of any policy change as reforms are made?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

We engage with children, young people, parents, and carers through our participation contract. Next week I will meet the National Young People's Group to hear their views and experiences on the policy changes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how voices would be prioritized in reforms specifically.

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Q3 Laurence Turner Lab Birmingham Northfield
Children & Families
Context

The MP organised a SEND surgery where it was evident that different public bodies were not collaborating as intended by the Children and Families Act 2014, leading to long delays and distress.

Question

Will the Minister agree to receive representations from young people and families in south Birmingham so their negative experiences can contribute to reforming the SEND system?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Absolutely, we are committed to working with families to improve the SEND system. We will ensure that they have access to free and impartial support to participate in decisions affecting them, and I welcome suggestions from my hon. Friend on how to improve the system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment for engagement with youth and families.

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Q4 Richard Tice Reform Boston and Skegness
Taxation Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights a crisis of capacity for SEND provision in the state sector and questions if VAT exemption should be granted to schools funding SEND children.

Question

Surely the right thing to do is grant a VAT exemption on SEND children to ease the crisis?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

We are committed to ensuring that pupils with needs requiring private schooling are not impacted by this policy. Local authorities can reclaim VAT charged on fees where the place is funded due to state sector incapacity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address VAT exemption directly but provided a solution for local authority funding issues.

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Q5 Lewis Cocking Con Broxbourne
Children & Families
Context

The MP references Hertfordshire's third-lowest national SEND funding and a 223% increase in children with EHCPs since 2015, questioning if current funding reflects need.

Question

Does the Minister agree that funding should reflect the current need?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

High-needs funding will increase by nearly £1 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25, bringing total high-needs funding to £11.9 billion. The national funding formula for distribution will be announced later this month.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly answer whether the current need would dictate funding but provided future funding figures and plans.

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