Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the SEND review, published March 2022, what plans he has to establish new national standards to meet the needs of (a) children with complex disabilities and (b) every child.

The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper sets out the department’s proposals to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND and their families. The proposals aim to drive national consistency in how needs are assessed, identified and met across education, health and care through the introduction of national standards. These standards are intended to set out the full range of support and provision for meeting all needs, including those of children and young people with more complex needs.

All of the proposals within the green paper are currently open to a full public consultation and the department will be listening carefully to all views expressed to ensure the policies secure department ambitions to improve outcomes and parental confidence in the system. The department is committed to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to take part in the consultation and encourages everyone to do so.