Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nesil Caliskan and Georgia Gould

Monday 14th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Georgia Gould]

I can confirm that these reforms are designed to ensure that the right support is available for children in every community and that there is accountability on every part of the system to deliver for families and young people, who have been let down for too long.

[Nesil Caliskan (Barking) (Lab)]

15. What support her Department provides to councils for SEND services.

[Dr Al Pinkerton (Surrey Heath) (LD)]

18. What discussions her Department has had with local authorities on ensuring that SEND services accurately cater to levels of unmet need.

[The Minister for School Standards (Georgia Gould)]

The Department is bringing forward reforms to improve the SEND system long term. With this investment in local authorities and other parts of the systems comes a strong focus on improvement. Through SEND reform plans, we will be carefully monitoring performance and offering support, but also intervening strongly where there is persistent failure.

[Nesil Caliskan]

Creating additional SEND spaces is critical for my constituency as we have had a 100% increase in education, health and care plans and an extra 1,000 students now need special educational needs support. Will the Minister reassure us that when the schools Bill comes through, as part of the proposals there will be additional support for mainstream teachers to get the training they need so that there is support in mainstream schools?

[Georgia Gould]

My hon. Friend has been a passionate campaigner on this issue. It is because of representations from her constituents and those of many others around the Chamber that we will be introducing compulsory professional development on special educational needs and disabilities for teachers, backed by £200 million.