Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy Debate

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Department: Department for International Development

Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy

Jen Craft Excerpts
Monday 20th October 2025

(1 day, 23 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jen Craft Portrait Jen Craft (Thurrock) (Lab)
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I strongly welcome this strategy today, particularly the commitment that the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State have made to guarantee all 16-year-olds a college place. However, will she commit to working towards closing the legislative gap, where children between the ages of five and 16 with SEND can access home-to-school transport, as can those with SEND from age 19 to 25, but between the ages of 16 and 19 there is currently no statutory provision for them to have home-to-school transport. An estimated one in seven disabled young people, equating to 13,500 people, were unable to access college this year alone as a result.

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson
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I recognise the passion and expertise that my hon. Friend brings to this subject, and I would be happy to discuss that issue with her in more detail.