Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that support for SEN children is needs-led.

The government has made it their mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. The department’s ambition is that all children and young people receive the support they need, in the most appropriate setting. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.

An important part of this work is strengthening the evidence base on what works to identify and support children with different types of needs. The department has recently commissioned a number of independent evidence reviews to shed further light on this.