Contributions
680 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionThere are two things: increasing the number of educational psychologists, which will improve the ability to get a diagnosis quickly; and ensuring that identification happens in…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend has been a brilliant campaigner and has shown me around some brilliant special schools in his patch, such as the Sir Bobby Robson School. He is absolutely right to…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI would be happy to discuss any matters in this area that the hon. Gentleman would like to talk about. He is absolutely right that we must get the support right, with a focus on…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI thank my hon. Friend for everything he has done in his area for alternative provision, which he clearly cares about. AP schools are important because they are where some of our…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. I have heard from a lot of parents about their frustrations. We will streamline and standardise the EHCP process to make it much simpler for…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend has long campaigned for extra specialist provision in Bracknell, so I am delighted that that is happening. He is absolutely right that diagnosis is important, which…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI hold very near my heart the plight of parents who are struggling with the system. They know that their child gets only one shot at education; it is very stressful for them, and…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionWe are working so closely with the health Department that it has jointly published the report with us. We will also be working with it on a joint steering group. My right hon.…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend has huge personal experience in improving the skills and life chances of children and young people. She is absolutely right that this is about levelling up, which…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right about diagnosis. Autism is one of the areas in which need has most risen. We will work with the NHS on new autism diagnostic pathways, as well…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. I have seen some areas and schools doing unbelievably brilliant work, and some areas that are not doing so well. We want to reduce that…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI am passionate about alternative provision: it is where some of our most vulnerable at-risk young people go, so we want to ensure that it is of really high quality. We will bring…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI am delighted that my hon. Friend is to have that specialist school. He has raised the subject with me on many occasions. We will work closely with the Department of Health and…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI know that my hon. Friend is passionate about SEN support in Cheadle, a subject that she has raised with me numerous times. I should be delighted to meet her and discuss it…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionI have seen a range of provision, including some private provision that is absolutely excellent, but I agree that too many children have to go outside of county to get the…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionThe hon. Lady is right that too many families are waiting too long. There has been a huge rise in need. We have put elements in place to help: the workforce strategies will ensure…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend has had constructive conversations with me about speech and language therapy. I am delighted that we are rolling out pathfinders, and I would be happy to discuss…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionThe hon. Lady is absolutely right that national standards should not be levelled down but there should be a minimum. Across the country, there is huge variability. Some schools,…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy hon. Friend has raised this issue with me many times, and I am pleased that we will be able to end the postcode lottery by reducing that variation while also improving the…06 Mar 2023HANSARD SEND and Alternative ProvisionMy right hon. Friend has long campaigned for this kind of facility in Selby. I would be happy to meet him to talk further about the details. We are setting out a lot more special…06 Mar 2023