Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking with local authorities to ensure adequate educational provision for schoolchildren with an education, health and care plan.

For too long the education and care system has not met the needs of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with parents struggling to get their children the support they need and deserve, particularly through long and difficult education, health and care (EHC) plan processes.

The department is working closely with experts on reform, including a strategic advisor for SEND who will play a key role in convening and engaging with the sector, including leaders, practitioners, children and families as we consider next steps.

The department has also listened to parents, local authority colleagues, and partners across education, health and social care and are considering carefully how to address and improve the experience of the EHC plan process for families and reflecting on what practice could or should be made consistent nationally.

We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools so that more children and young people can achieve and thrive in their local mainstream school, reducing the need for pupils to travel a long way to access a specialist placement.

The department will strengthen accountability on mainstream settings to be inclusive and support the mainstream workforce to increase their SEND expertise. Many mainstream settings are committed to delivering specialist provision locally including through resourced provision and special educational needs unit. Alongside this, we recognise the vital role that special schools play catering to children and young people with the most complex needs.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has now announced £740 million for high needs capital in 2025/26 to support children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision. This new funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, alongside continuing to provide places to support pupils.