Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that local authorities provide timely education, health and care plan assessments.

The department knows that parents have struggled to get the right support for their children, particularly through long and difficult education, health and care plan processes. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach to support the sector, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and alternative provision settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.

Where local authorities are failing to deliver consistent outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the department works with them using a range of support and challenge, improvement programmes and SEND specialist advisors to address identified weaknesses.