Government’s Childcare Expansion

Adam Jogee Excerpts

Thursday 17th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend, and I wish his son good luck as he starts nursery today.

[Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab)]

I have sore calves after this morning, Madam Deputy Speaker. A child-centred Government are exactly what people in Newcastle-under-Lyme want, but the disgraceful state of special educational needs and disability provision in our schools means that we have more to do. How does this announcement, which I welcome, sit alongside our commitment to overhauling the SEND system?

[Stephen Morgan]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are reviewing the early years SEND funding arrangements to ensure that they are suitable for supporting the needs of children with SEND. For children with more complex needs and an education, health and care plan, funding is available via the high needs block of the dedicated schools grant. Local authorities should have SEND inclusion funding for children with low and emerging needs. Disability access funding is also designed to support disabled children’s access to entitlements.