Oral Answers to Questions

Sadik Al-Hassan Excerpts

Monday 9th September 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sadik Al-Hassan (North Somerset) (Lab)]

12. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of SEND services.

[Luke Murphy (Basingstoke) (Lab)]

13. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of SEND services.

--- Later in debate ---

[Bridget Phillipson]

My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the significant interest in the Westminster Hall debate, and the level of interest today demonstrates the importance of getting this issue right. I know from speaking to him that he is concerned about the issue. I agree that it is important that there is a fair education funding system that directs funding where it is most needed. One aspect of that is the national funding formula and allocating high-needs funding. We will take our time to look carefully at whether any changes are required, including in Hertfordshire.

[Sadik Al-Hassan]

May I ask my right hon. Friend to detail the Department’s plans to help to solve the recruitment problem for SEND professionals, to enable schools to deal with education, health and care plans in constituencies such as mine, North Somerset?

[Bridget Phillipson]

It is certainly the case that there is a big workforce challenge, and making sure that we have specialists in critical areas is a central part of making sure children and young people can access the support they need. Our school support staff will play a crucial role in that, which is why Labour will reinstate the school support staff negotiating body. We will make sure that teachers have more training alongside support staff, in order to deliver better support and education for our young people, and this year we are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists.