Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential for artificial intelligence tools to improve access to educational support for children with SEND in rural and coastal areas.

The department recognises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including adaptive and AI-enabled assistive technologies, to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities to achieve and thrive.

We are supporting the safe and effective use of AI in education through our published guidance and wider work to improve digital infrastructure, building the evidence base and supporting schools and colleges to adopt technology confidently.

This includes work to improve connectivity, through the Connect the Classroom programme supporting rural and coastal areas, work to develop workforce skills, and programmes to evaluate how technology can improve inclusion and pupil outcomes.

Some local areas are benefitting from the pilot of assistive technology lending libraries, including in rural and coastal areas such as Shropshire and County Durham. This enables schools and pupils to borrow and trial a range of tools to support access to learning, some of which may be enabled by AI.

The department is clear, however, that AI should complement the professional judgement of staff. Use of AI must be safe, evidence-informed and focused on improving outcomes for all children.