Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 27 January 2025 · 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 2 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Deirdre Costigan raised concerns about the burden of paperwork for teachers supporting disabled children in Ealing Southall.
  • Mr Louie French inquired about support for primary schools allowing pupils to wear PE kit all day on PE days due to changes in uniform policy.
  • Rachael Maskell requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss ensuring access to private sector services for sensory and motor integration for children.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Deirdre Costigan Lab Ealing Southall
Education Children & Families
Context

Teachers at Beaconsfield primary school in Ealing Southall reported filling up to six forms to get support for disabled children, indicating a need for administrative reform.

Question

I recently visited Beaconsfield primary school in Ealing Southall, where teachers told me they have to fill in up to six forms to get disabled children the help they need. The time that takes is time they do not have, and they often need to choose which child to prioritise for support. How will the Minister reduce unnecessary paperwork and make it easier and more efficient for schools to ensure that every disabled child gets the educational support that they need?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Yet again we hear about the urgent need to reform our SEND system. We are determined to turn it around. We will work with everyone across the House and anyone with an interest in this area, including parents, teachers and staff, because we need to get this right.

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Q2 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Education Safeguarding & DBS
Context

Some primary schools in Old Bexley and Sidcup allow pupils to wear their PE kit all day on PE days, raising concerns about uniform policy changes that Labour is pushing through.

Question

For safeguarding purposes, a number of primary schools in my constituency now allow pupils to wear their PE kit all day on PE days, rather than getting them changed in school. What assurance and support will Ministers give those schools that are concerned about the changes to uniform policy that Labour is pushing through, particularly with respect to participation in PE?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

There is no reason that schools should need to make any kind of change. Of course, headteachers make practical decisions about how they feel they should run their schools. We are cutting the cost to parents and putting more money back in their pockets, unlike the Conservative party, which seems to oppose practical, straightforward measures to cut the cost of school uniform.

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

Ensuring sensory and motor integration is crucial for a child’s development, but many such services are only available in the private sector.

Question

Ensuring sensory and motor integration is crucial for a child’s development and learning, yet many services that do so are available only in the private sector. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we can ensure that parents can access those crucial services?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

I know that my hon. Friend is a strong advocate for children with special educational needs and disabilities in her constituency, and I am happy to meet her to discuss the issue.

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Q4 Nick Timothy Con West Suffolk
Education
Context

Critics, including the Children’s Commissioner and educators like Katharine Birbalsingh and Sir Dan Moynihan, question the Government's education policies.

Question

The Children’s Commissioner says that the Government are<br/>“legislating against the things we know work in schools”.<br/>Katharine Birbalsingh says the schools Bill is “catastrophic”. Sir Dan Moynihan asks:<br/>“Why are we doing this?”.<br/>Why does the Education Secretary think that she knows more about education than the Children’s Commissioner, the head of the best school in the country, and the head of the best multi-academy trust?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

This Labour Government are determined to deliver high and rising standards for all our children. The Conservatives left 1,000 failing schools, continuing to let down more than 400,000 children. They left one in three children leaving primary school without a firm foundation in English and maths, and one in five children regularly out of school. If they want to debate their record, I will do it any day of the week.

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Q5 Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Lab Suffolk Coastal
Children & Families
Context

Over 100 families have reached out to Jenny Riddell-Carpenter since the general election regarding their urgent needs related to SEND services.

Question

Will the Minister meet me to discuss the SEND crisis in Suffolk Coastal? I have had over 100 families reach out to me since the general election to talk about their urgent needs and the crisis that they face because of Suffolk county council.

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Yes.

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Q6 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Children & Families
Context

Devon county council has a low rate of EHCP delivery within the legal timeframe, leading to long wait times for necessary tests and support.

Question

In Devon, only 4.9% of EHCPs are received within 20 weeks. Conservative-run Devon county council has been utterly failing our children for the past 10 years. Will the Minister meet me to discuss what more we can do to support the council and turn things around for families, like that of my constituent James, who has had to wait two and a half years for the test that he needs to get an EHCP?

Answer from Catherine McKinnell

Local authorities have been significantly impacted by the increased demand for EHCPs, and by workforce capacity issues. We know that they need a more effective and efficient service delivery for schools and families, and we are working as hard as we can to support local authorities in meeting their requirements in a timely way.

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