Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve the provision of SEND support for children in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

Departmental officials meet regularly with representatives from Essex and Thurrock local area partnerships to discuss their education, health and care (EHC) plan performance, annual review processes, sufficiency strategy and their wider support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Departmental officials challenge Essex and Thurrock about impact where appropriate and share best practice to provide support. Essex has recently announced investment of £2.9 million for additional assistance and resources to improve timeliness of the EHC plan process.

Thurrock is also part of the Delivering Better Value (DBV) in SEND programme, which provides £1 million in grant funding to support local authorities to provide more effective SEND services by meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND at an early stage and with the right level of support. The department monitors Thurrock’s progress in the DBV programme through quarterly reporting and meetings with the local authority. Thurrock is also involved in the supported internship programme and has a number of young people starting specialist internships at Amazon.

​This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach in collaboration with local area partnerships, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.