SEND and Alternative Provision Debate

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Department: Department for Education

SEND and Alternative Provision

Mary Robinson Excerpts
Monday 6th March 2023

(1 year, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Claire Coutinho Portrait Claire Coutinho
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I am delighted that my hon. Friend is to have that specialist school. He has raised the subject with me on many occasions. We will work closely with the Department of Health and Social Care on the entirety of the plan, but we are looking at mental health support in schools as well.

Mary Robinson Portrait Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con)
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I welcome the announcement of the SEND improvement plan. I was also delighted when, in August 2020, the Government announced £17 million of funding for a new SEND school in my constituency. Six months ago it was given the green light for planning, but there now appears to be a delay owing to a change of contractors. These things really matter, and we need to speed them up. Will my hon. Friend agree to look into the situation and find out what is going on, so that we can avoid any further delays and get on with completing this new and brilliant provision?

Claire Coutinho Portrait Claire Coutinho
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I know that my hon. Friend is passionate about SEN support in Cheadle, a subject that she has raised with me numerous times. I should be delighted to meet her and discuss it further, and I will certainly raise it in the Department.