Oral Answers to Questions

Mike Martin Excerpts

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Janet Daby]

The hon. Member outlined many failings by the previous Government. I will ask my noble Friend the Minister for Skills to meet him.

[Mike Martin (Tunbridge Wells) (LD)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

[Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)]

15. What steps her Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)]

Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve and to thrive but, currently, far from every child has that chance. We have announced that high needs funding will increase by almost £1 billion in 2025-26 compared with 2024-25. We will work with the sector to strengthen accountability, improve inclusivity through Ofsted, support professionals to increase SEND expertise and encourage schools to set up resourced provision or special educational needs units in mainstream schools.

[Mike Martin]

My constituent Suzie waited for an education, health and care plan for her son Harrison for 42 weeks. By law, they have to be provided within 20 weeks, so Conservative-run Kent county council took more than twice the amount of time that it should have done. When it came, it was full of mistakes, and Harrison is now in the wrong school, his class size is too big and he does not have the specialist support he requires. Previously, Kent county council was put in special measures to sort out the problem with EHCP provision. Would the Secretary of State support KCC going back into special measures so that students like Harrison get the support that they deserve?

[Catherine McKinnell]

I am sorry to hear about the challenges faced by the hon. Gentleman’s constituent. Local authorities have been impacted by the increased demand for education, health and care plans and by workforce capacity issues, so more efficient and effective service delivery and communication with schools and families is central to turning that around. We will work as quickly as possible to ensure a more effective response and early identification for children, and I will take away the particular example he raises.