Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of educational provision for children with Special Educational Needs in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire were inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in September 2024 and are awaiting their inspection outcome, due to be published mid-November 2024.

The department has appointed a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) adviser to work collaboratively with an NHS England Adviser to challenge, support and work alongside the local area partnership to improve its services. The regional team will put in place systems to track progress against all improvements identified in the published report.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach in collaboration with local area partnerships to improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.