Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Monday 21st January 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

We note carefully hon. Members’ representations about UTC applications in their areas. Obviously, I cannot comment on individual applications under consideration, but we note his support.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

9. What steps he is taking to ensure that children with special educational needs receive a co-ordinated service across agencies.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Edward Timpson)]

Our proposed reforms will ensure that services work closely together to support children and young people with special educational needs, including a requirement for local authorities and the health service to commission services jointly. We are testing approaches to implementation across 20 pathfinders, including a local offer that sets out services available for all children and young people with SEN and a co-ordinated education, health and care plan for those with more complex needs.

[Henry Smith]

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. What is his Department doing to help provide joined-up and co-ordinated services specifically for children with special educational needs who are in care or being fostered?

[Mr Timpson]

Around 70% of children in care have some form of special educational needs so it is vital that we better co-ordinate the support that they receive, including in their foster placements. The pathfinders are looking specifically at improving working partnerships between education, health and social care in respect of looked-after children, as well as at the training needs of foster carers to ensure that we get much more co-ordinated support.