Local Authority SEND Services 2026-09-14
2026-09-14
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Discussions are needed to ensure SEND services accurately cater to levels of unmet need.
What discussions has the Department had with local authorities to ensure that SEND services accurately cater to levels of unmet need?
The Department is bringing forward reforms to improve the SEND system long term. With this investment in local authorities and other parts of the systems comes a strong focus on improvement. Through SEND reform plans, we will be carefully monitoring performance and offering support, but also intervening strongly where there is persistent failure.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for detailed discussions and measures to address unmet SEND needs was not fully addressed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The constituency has seen a 100% increase in education, health and care plans and an extra 1,000 students now need special educational needs support.
Creating additional SEND spaces is critical for my constituency as we have had a 100% increase in education, health and care plans and an extra 1,000 students now need special educational needs support. Will the Minister reassure us that when the schools Bill comes through, as part of the proposals there will be additional support for mainstream teachers to get the training they need so that there is support in mainstream schools?
My hon. Friend has been a passionate campaigner on this issue. It is because of representations from her constituents and those of many others around the Chamber that we will be introducing compulsory professional development on special educational needs and disabilities for teachers, backed by £200 million.
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Assessment & feedback
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Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
A great number of children across Surrey have been left without the special educational provision they need, with a disproportionate number of those requiring specialist autism provision living in the new West Surrey unitary authority area.
A great number of children across Surrey have been left without the special educational provision they need this year and a disproportionate number—64%—of those who require specialist autism provision live in the new West Surrey unitary authority area. Given Surrey county council's historical failure to align provision with need, and with worrying reports that the SEND system is being allowed to collapse in Surrey's final year of operation, will the Minister directly intervene to ensure that Department for Education capital investment prioritises the specialist autism places that West Surrey desperately needs? Will she meet me and the incoming leaders of West Surrey to see how that can be done?
I will meet the hon. Member to discuss that; I have heard directly from Surrey parents and from him. We invested £16 million last year and have invested close to £19 million this year in specialist places in Surrey. We are carefully looking at Surrey's reform plan as part of our work on local authority accountability. I will keep working with the hon. Member on these important issues.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for direct intervention and prioritisation of specialist autism places was not fully addressed.
Response accuracy