Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of specialist professions for children with sight loss as part of the SEND review.

In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper, the department announced it would establish a single, national SEND and AP system. This will set clear standards for provision, processes and systems, clear roles and responsibilities, and set strengthened accountabilities at every level to drive up outcomes and improve consistency for children and young people with SEND.

The proposals aim to drive national consistency in how needs are assessed, identified, and met across education, health, and care through the introduction of national standards. These are intended to provide clarity and consistency in the types of support that should be available for children and young people with SEND or those who require AP, including access to specialist professionals.

The department knows the value that mainstream schools place on high-quality, accessible specialist advice. This includes advice from educational psychologists and qualified teachers of visually impaired children and young people. The SEND and AP Green Paper sets out the department’s vision for an inclusive education system to ensure that all children and young people, including those with sight loss, have timely access to specialist services and support.