Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Pollard Excerpts

Monday 9th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)]

16. What plans he has to improve the provision of services for children with special educational needs and disabilities in schools.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mrs Kemi Badenoch)]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question, which gives me another opportunity to let everyone know that the Government have announced an additional £14 billion for schools over the next three years, including the £700 million of high-needs funding for special educational needs and disabilities that we have been discussing.

[Luke Pollard]

Pupils with SEND account for nearly half the 41 pupils excluded from schools every day, which is contributing to the increase in the number of pupils being home schooled. What support is being given to pupils with SEND who are being home schooled?

[Mrs Badenoch]

We are going to be looking at that as part of a review into special educational needs and disabilities, and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statement that we laid before Parliament today.

--- Later in debate ---

[Gavin Williamson]

May I take the opportunity to pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the campaigning he always undertakes to deliver the very best for all the schools in his constituency and the campaigning he has done to get the increase in school funding we announced just the other week? I would be more than happy to write to him and to meet with him to discuss this important issue for his constituency.

[Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)]

T10. Will the Secretary of State send a message to every young LGBT child in our schools up and down the country that they are loved and valued and that children will be taught about their existence in school lessons in an age-appropriate way?

[Gavin Williamson]

I can absolutely assure the hon. Gentleman that that is very much the case. It is very important that we teach children about the Britain we live in today.