Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research published by the National Deaf Children’s Society which found that 51 per cent of local authorities subject to an Ofsted and Care Quality Commission special educational needs and disabilities inspection in 2017 had to produce a written statement of action.

As at 3 October 2019, 100 local areas have been inspected and their reports published under the Ofsted and Care Quality Commission Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) inspection framework. Of these, 51 local areas have been asked to produce a Written Statements of Action.

The inspection process (including revisits) is intended to identify in each local area where they are doing well in respect of their SEND responsibilities and where there are areas for development.

We are confident that the inspections, along with our joint working with partners to provide support and challenge to local areas, including through the new SEND Leadership Board, are helping local areas to improve their services.