Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Greg Smith Excerpts
Thursday 24th October 2024

(4 days, 11 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Catherine McKinnell Portrait Catherine McKinnell
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My hon. Friend sets out very well the vision that we are seeking to achieve for all children. The purpose of all the changes we are making in our education system is to ensure that inclusive mainstream education is available to all children and that there are specialist places for children with the most complex needs.

Greg Smith Portrait Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
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With more and more children requiring SEND provision, the scale of the challenge is undoubtedly large. The previous Conservative Government did offer a beacon of hope for children in Buckinghamshire, with the previous Secretary of State confirming funding for a new SEND school in the county. Can the Minister confirm whether those funds are still secure and whether Buckinghamshire will still get that new SEND school?

Catherine McKinnell Portrait Catherine McKinnell
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As the hon. Member is aware, we are looking at the whole system in the round to ensure that we have the inclusive mainstream provision that the vast majority of children will not only benefit from but do better in, and that we have specialist places where they are needed. We are working at pace to ensure that we have the right places for the children who need them as fast as possible.