Oral Answers to Questions

Debbie Abrahams Excerpts

Monday 24th June 2019 Commons Chamber

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

21. What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

[Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Lab)]

22. What steps he is taking to support children with special educational needs and disabilities in their education.

--- Later in debate ---

[Nadhim Zahawi]

There are clearly funding pressures on the system, which is why we have announced £250 million in additional funding to take the funding to £6.3 billion. We are in the middle of a spending review and I will be putting my best foot forward to make sure that we get the funding in place.

[Debbie Abrahams]

The £1.2 billion shortfall in SEND funding means that children with an education, health and care plan may be refused a local place because schools cannot afford to provide the support that these children need. Does the Minister agree that all children, regardless of their disability, should have the support that they need to reach their potential?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I do; all children should have the ability to reach their potential, which is why we introduced the reforms in the first place in 2014. We are beginning to see really good practice in places such as Wiltshire and elsewhere, and we learn from best practice and try to scale it to other parts of the country.