Special Educational Needs: Dyscalculia

Lord Bishop of Norwich Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

As the noble Baroness knows extremely well, there are always competing areas for funding, but that is not to underestimate the importance of maths hubs and the work they are doing. We want to make sure they can be as efficient as possible and reach as many young people as possible, using every available avenue of communication.

[The Lord Bishop of Norwich]

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for the answers she has given, but I will probe a bit further in two areas. Will dyscalculia be included in the core work of the inclusion hubs that are suggested as a requirement for all secondary schools in the schools White Paper? To what extent will the newly announced “experts at hand” funding specifically be used to address support for children with this condition?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I will repeat what I have said, and emphasise that the national inclusion standards cover all areas. We need to have universal approaches as well as the tools and approaches to identify and respond to the needs. Of course, dyscalculia is an important consideration, as are all the other conditions our young people face. That is how we are moving forward—to make sure that every young person’s needs are recognised and dealt with in an appropriate way, in order to give them the absolute maximum support to enable them to succeed.