Contributions
1,058 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesThe hon. Member is right to identify those challenges. In its analysis, published today, the National Audit Office said that the current system was not working and not serving the…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesWe recognise how challenging this situation is for families who are not getting the support they need for special education needs or disabilities. We know that the system is…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI thank my hon. Friend for her question. She rightly identifies the need to ensure that we have the right school places for children whose needs are currently not being met in the…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesAs I have said, one of the first acts of the Education Secretary was to reorganise the Department to make sure that the SEND team sits within our school team and is not separate…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI welcome my hon. Friend to her position as Chair of the Education Committee, which I know will undertake vital work scrutinising the Government’s approach on this issue and on…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesEvery child deserves the opportunity to achieve and thrive, but at the moment far from every child is being given that chance. Today’s report from the National Audit Office is,…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI thank the hon. Lady for raising the issue and bringing it to the House. She is absolutely right to draw attention to the National Audit Office report and its damning indictment…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesAbsolutely. I am always very careful to say that we thank and applaud both the teachers in our schools and the incredible support staff, who not only support teachers in their…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy hon. Friend raises an important point. We need to move to a more sustainable footing in the longer term and make sure that councils can plan ahead. That is something we are…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI wish my hon. Friend well in her meeting tomorrow. We know the challenges in the system, and they are laid bare in the National Audit Office report. There is no shortage of will…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesThe hon. Gentleman is, as always, characteristically constructive in his contribution, and I thank him for that. I am more than happy to take away his suggestion and consider it…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy hon. Friend makes the case very well. I agree that we need to work at pace to improve the mental health support available for young people, to improve the availability of…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesThe hon. Gentleman is right that the solution to many of these challenges is to create inclusive mainstream education in every community, so that every child can benefit from it…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesCouncils are at the forefront of seeking to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, and they are being let down by a system…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesThe hon. Gentleman is right that the NAO has identified that the system is currently unsustainable, and not only is it financially unsustainable but it is not sustainable for the…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy hon. Friend raises a number of issues and I fear we are running out of time to give them the response they deserve. I will be happy to respond in more detail in writing because…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI recognise the challenge that the hon. Gentleman raises. He tempts me into anticipating the Budget statement next week, but I will say that we recognise the challenges that many…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. Early diagnosis and early intervention are known to significantly improve the opportunities and outcomes for children with special…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesI absolutely agree with the National Audit Office. Although it is a damning report, we recognise much of what it says and are determined to fix it and put it right in the way the…24 Oct 2024HANSARD Special Educational Needs and DisabilitiesMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We in government cannot deliver any of the change we want to see; it will be delivered by the teachers, the support staff, the education…24 Oct 2024