Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Morgan Excerpts
Monday 29th January 2024

(10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Johnston Portrait David Johnston
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We are working closely with local authorities on this issue. We have allocated more than £1.5 billion of high needs capital allocations in the last two years for local authorities to create additional places. Gloucestershire County Council has announced a 200-place moderate and additional learning difficulties school for four to 16-year-olds, to be delivered through our free school presumption route in early 2026.

Helen Morgan Portrait Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)
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There are only three specialist schools provided by the state in Shropshire. Two of them are—

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. The supplementary question should relate to the question on the Order Paper.

Helen Morgan Portrait Helen Morgan
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Just as in Gloucestershire, we are short of specialist schools—two of our three are rated as inadequate and need improving. The most vulnerable children are unable to go to school because need is not being met. Will the Minister look at what can be done in Shropshire to provide places for the most seriously affected children?

David Johnston Portrait David Johnston
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In addition to working with Gloucestershire, we work with Shropshire on its capacity. We have already announced 41 new special free schools with a further 38 in the pipeline.