Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support specialist independent SEND schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Independent special schools can play an important role in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, particularly in meeting the needs of children and young people with highly complex needs. We recognise the expertise and value that many offer. However, independent special schools have higher costs than their maintained equivalents and we need to ensure that placements are used appropriately and deliver value for money.
The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special and alternative provision schools cater to those with the most complex needs. We want to encourage stronger partnerships and sharing of best practice across specialist and mainstream schools. We are considering how best to achieve this as part of our wider SEND reform plans.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase (a) capacity and (b) resources in community schools in the context of transfers from the private to comprehensive school sector.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The department works to support local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient school places for children that need them. School funding in England is increasing by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, taking total core school funding to £65.3 billion.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of (a) children and (b) young people who are on the waiting list for an education, health and care plan in Oxfordshire; and how many and what proportion of those people have been waiting for longer than 20 weeks.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell
The department collects information on the number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, the number of EHC needs assessments carried out, and the number of EHC plans issued on a calendar year basis. The latest figures we hold relate to the 2023 calendar year. We do not hold information on the current caseload being dealt with by the local authority.
Information on the number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment, the number of EHC needs assessments carried out, and the number of EHC plans issued within 20 weeks from the date of the request for an EHC needs assessment in relation to Oxfordshire is shown in the following table: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/95ca811a-c2f6-4b97-6d62-08dd48e2728c.
Asked by: Charlie Maynard (Liberal Democrat - Witney)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Witney to discuss (a) the condition of Carterton Community College and (b) SEND further education provision in West Oxfordshire.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
As the Minister responsible for school and college capital funding, the hon. Member for Witney can contact my office to arrange a meeting to discuss these matters.