School Funding: Special Educational Needs Debate

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Department: Department for Education

School Funding: Special Educational Needs

Baroness Wilcox of Newport Excerpts
Thursday 23rd May 2024

(5 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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The report focused on the state-funded sector and is therefore not related to VAT in education.

Baroness Wilcox of Newport Portrait Baroness Wilcox of Newport (Lab)
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My Lords, research has found that children from the most disadvantaged areas are less likely to be identified with SEND and that they face higher thresholds for accessing support. Is that further evidence of the failure of this Government’s education policy?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
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No, I do not accept that. As I said, this Government have focused very much on supporting schools and teachers to do their critical job brilliantly, and we should not question that. The support that we have put in for special educational needs has been unparalleled compared to any previous era.