Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how their SEND reforms will ensure (1) early identification of children with dyslexia, and (2) equality in access to support in every school.

The department recognises that effective early identification and intervention are critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia.

We want all education settings to be confident in identifying needs accurately and providing evidence-based support as early as possible. To support this, we are strengthening the evidence base on effective approaches. In partnership with the department, we have commissioned research, led by UK Research and Innovation, to develop approaches to early identification, assessment and support.

Through the SEND reform consultation, we proposed the introduction of National Inclusion Standards to set out evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches for identifying and supporting needs, and the introduction of a new training package for all staff to upskill them on identifying and responding to needs. We also proposed a duty on schools to produce an Inclusion Strategy, setting out the support they would provide across Universal, Targeted and Targeted Plus provision. We are currently considering consultation responses to inform decisions on these proposals and any future requirements.