Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Claire Coutinho

Monday 16th January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Claire Coutinho]

I do indeed congratulate that team; that is quite a hard thing to do and it is brilliant that they have been able to get that recommendation.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

The Government take the safety of schools very seriously, as the Minister said in response to an earlier question, so will Ministers reconsider mandating the fitting of sprinklers in new-build schools to minimise the risk posed by fires to buildings, equipment, pupils’ school work and people?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Claire Coutinho

Monday 28th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Claire Coutinho]

We absolutely need to address the plight of low-income families struggling with the system when their children have SEND. The amount of funding that has gone into the SEND high needs block has risen by 40% over the last three years, so we are putting the funding in, but we absolutely need to ensure that it is going to the right families.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Teaching assistants providing one-to-one support are vital for children with additional needs to succeed in the classroom, but many are leaving because the pay is too low for them to survive during the economic crisis. What steps are Ministers taking to improve both recruitment and retention rates for SEND teaching assistants?

[Claire Coutinho]

I point to the £2 billion extra funding that is going into the schools system next year and the year after as well as the huge increase of funding that I just mentioned going into the SEND sector.