SEND Education Funding 2020-10-12
2020-10-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Stephen McPartland raised concerns about the effectiveness of current SEND education funding arrangements.
What recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of funding arrangements for special educational needs and disability (SEND) education?
We are putting an extra £730 million into funding those with complex special educational needs and disabilities next year, which represents a 10% increase year-on-year in the high needs block, and that comes on top of the £780 million increase for this year, which means that the block will have grown by £1.5 billion, which is an increase of nearly a quarter. In Hertfordshire, funding for the high needs block will grow by 24% over that two-year period.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
McPartland welcomed the increased government funding but criticised the council for not passing it on to families. He highlighted cuts to Delivering Special Provision Locally groups, overwhelmed child and mental health services, and a focus on process over support.
I welcome the increased Government funding in Hertfordshire, but the county council does not pass it through to families on the frontline. It is cutting funding to our Delivering Special Provision Locally groups. Our child and mental health services are overwhelmed. It is focusing on process, instead of our children with SEND. Will the Minister undertake a review of the real accessibility of SEND services in Hertfordshire and help me hold the council to account, so that we can fix SEND in Hertfordshire?
I thank my hon. Friend for his concern for the young people of Hertfordshire and their families. The Government are undertaking a major review of the special educational needs and disabilities system. It is a major priority for the Government and we are considering improvements to make sure that the SEND system is consistent, high quality and integrated across education, health and care and, importantly, that it works with parents, carers and families to make sure that they and their children are at the heart of the system.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to a specific review or timeline for holding the council accountable, but acknowledged the importance of the SEND system being consistent and integrated.
Under Review
Response accuracy