SEND Improvement Plans Multi-academy Trusts
2026-06-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from concerns about local authority cooperation with multi-academy trusts in delivering SEND plans. There is a need for clear levers to ensure accountability.
What assessment has the Department made of the potential impact of planned SEND reforms on the ability of local authorities to effectively co-operate with multi-academy trusts on the delivery of local area SEND improvement plans?
Through the national consultation and local special educational needs and disabilities reform plans, we are ensuring that multi-academy trusts play a key role in SEND reforms. New national inclusion standards will create shared expectations for all schools around inclusive education, and the SEND reforms make clear our expectations that all multi-academy trusts and schools work in partnership with local authorities to ensure the needs of every child in an area are met.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about the impact assessment was not addressed directly.
National Consultation
Local Reform Plans
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
There is concern about clear levers for accountability in the delivery of SEND plans. The Department's response to the first question did not address these concerns fully.
Without clear levers, accountability cannot be guaranteed and the Department cannot ensure that SEND reforms translate into consistent, high-quality support for children and their families on the ground. Will the Minister clarify what specific and enforceable powers local authorities will have to ensure that multi-academy trusts play their full part in delivering local area SEND plans?
The Government will be setting national standards for all schools, including multi-academy trusts. National inclusion standards will be developed by an independent expert panel and all schools will need to ensure they are delivered. We are also introducing new inspections for multi-academy trusts that will focus on a range of levers, including the importance of inclusion in education.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about enforceable powers was not directly addressed.
National Standards
Independent Expert Panel
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Special needs specialists in schools have raised concerns about the shortage of educational psychologists, and a constituent's child has additional needs requiring occupational therapy.
Special needs specialists in my constituency have raised their concerns about the shortage of educational psychologists. A mum of a profoundly disabled child I met on Saturday also raised concerns about the shortage of occupational therapists. What are the Government doing to address the specific needs of that group?
We are investing £1.8 billion in the new Experts at Hand service, which will start from September, making educational psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists far more accessible for students in mainstream education. We are also investing £40 million into training new educational psychologists and speech and language therapists to develop the workforce.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy