SEND Provision Kent 2026-03-02
2026-03-02
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
NHS England inspections in 2019 and 2022 highlighted necessary improvements for SEND in Kent. Regular review meetings and expert support have been provided.
What assessment has been made of the adequacy of SEND provision in Kent?
The Department has worked closely with NHS England to monitor, support and challenge Kent in making necessary SEND improvements following its area SEND inspections in 2019 and 2022. This has included regular review meetings, attendance at its SEND partnership board and commissioning the support of an expert SEND adviser.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
A constituency roundtable highlighted that years of underfunding and diminished support services have left schools struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable children. The Government's funding announcement is seen as insufficient.
Can the Minister tell me what other steps she will take to deliver urgently needed improvements in SEND provision in my constituency, as the funding looks likely to equate to only a few thousand pounds extra per school?
My hon. Friend will know that we have recently announced support to local authorities like Kent in order to address 90% of their deficits. We are building three new special schools in Kent and putting in place £3.7 billion in capital investment, and the allocation for Kent will be coming onboard shortly. We have announced £4 billion of extra investment to wrap around schools, including for speech and language therapists as well as money directly into school budgets.
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