Context
Worcestershire county council has repeatedly failed to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities, leading to distress for families.
Question
What assessment has her Department made of the effectiveness of powers to intervene where local authorities are not meeting statutory SEND duties? She knows that Worcestershire county council has repeatedly failed children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families. Many parents report persistent failures to meet statutory duties and experiences of being dismissed or gaslit, causing prolonged distress to families already under extreme pressure.
Answer from The Minister for School Standards (Georgia Gould)
I thank my hon. Friend for raising this issue. I have travelled around the country talking to parents and, sadly, the story he has set out in his constituency of parents having to battle for support is one we hear in too many communities. We want to ensure that the voices of children and their parents are at the heart of reform, and we want a system based on partnership and collaboration, but we know that it has to be underpinned by robust accountability. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with Ofsted to ensure that performance is monitored and, where it drops, that we are taking action.
Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment regarding measures in the schools White Paper for proper holding of local authorities to account or driving swift improvement.
How: Want To Ensure That The Voices Of Children And Their Parents Are At The Heart Of Reform, We Want A System Based On Partnership And Collaboration
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