Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to improve SEND provision in schools in Hendon.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed, where possible in mainstream schools.

The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to children and young people with the most complex needs, restoring parents’ trust that their child will get the support they need. We are strengthening accountability for inclusivity, including through Ofsted, and encouraging schools to set up resourced provision or special educational needs units to increase capacity in mainstream schools.

Barnet are also one of the lead local authorities in the Change Programme, which is helping test and develop the government’s proposals for improving the SEND system.

High-quality teaching is also central to ensuring that all pupils, including those with SEND, are given the best possible opportunity to achieve in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers over the course of this parliament. To support all teachers, the department is implementing a range of teacher training reforms to ensure teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed, including those with SEND.

On 1 September 2024, the government introduced a new mandatory leadership level qualification for special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs). The qualification will play a key role in improving outcomes for pupils with SEND, by ensuring SENCOs consistently receive high-quality, evidence-based training on how best to support children with SEND

High needs funding will also increase by almost £1 billion in 2025/26, compared to 2024/25 and the department has announced £740 million of capital funding to create more specialist places, including in mainstream schools.