Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on developing a new self-evaluation tool for commissioners of services for children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs.

We have not had any recent discussions with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care about specific plans to develop a self-evaluation tool for commissioners of services for children and young people who have speech, language and communication needs. However, officials are in regular contact and we continue to work together to improve outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. In our joint response to the ‘Bercow: Ten Years On’ report we outlined a number of commitments to ensure that these children and young people receive the support they need.

We are working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to establish a System Leadership Board for special educational needs and disabilities, which will focus on improving joint commissioning and working between education, health and social care partners at a local level. We will ensure that the board listens to the views of those with expertise in speech, language and communication.