Education: Special Educational Needs

Debate between Baroness Gardner of Parkes and Lord Hill of Oareford

Monday 25th June 2012 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

Is the Minister aware that people training to be dental chairside assistants are allowed to sit the relevant exam only three times? I met one such person recently who has failed the written exam twice and has now discovered that she is dyslexic. She says that to get special assistance she will have to produce many hundreds of pounds, and that if she does not get that assistance and does not pass the exam the next time she will not be allowed to continue in employment although the dentist who employs her is completely satisfied with everything that she has done. She has passed all the other sections of the exam except the written part. What help is available to people like her?

[Lord Hill of Oareford]

I afraid that I am not aware of that case, but perhaps I could have a word with my noble friend afterwards and look into that on her behalf.

Schools: Parenting Skills

Debate between Baroness Gardner of Parkes and Lord Hill of Oareford

Thursday 17th May 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hill of Oareford]

The Government do take this issue seriously. I know how much the noble Lord, Lord Northbourne, cares about it and I was glad to have the chance to discuss some of these issues with him a month or two back. The Government are taking a range of measures such as extending free education and care to 15 hours a week for disadvantaged two year-olds from September 2013, and doubling that again by September 2014. We have announced parenting trials and more flexible parental leave, so there are a number of measures. When one draws those together, I hope he will see that we take this issue seriously. We need to approach it across a broad front.

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes]

Is there any thought of including parents, along with the children, in these educational matters because the parent very often knows nothing about them? It is all very well to think of the next generation, but the present generation could do with a bit of help too, and if schools could in some way include parents in this scheme it would be to the good.