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Written Question
Special Educational Needs: Teachers
Monday 14th October 2024

Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make the teaching workforce more inclusive for individuals with special educational needs and disabilities.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell

The government is committed to making teaching a profession where all teachers, including those with disabilities, have equal opportunities to progress. This includes designing our world-class programmes such as the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications to support teachers from diverse backgrounds. We expect schools, like all employers, to discharge their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and give due consideration to the way their employment practices affect staff at different stages of their careers.

To this end, we are improving data collection on disability within the teaching profession to better understand their barriers to success. In 2023, the department published a report on barriers to collecting disability data and have since enhanced guidance for schools on the School Workforce Census and conducted additional research via the School and College Panel and the Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders Study.

Additionally, the forthcoming Race Equality Act will require public services, including schools, to report data on staffing, pay, and outcomes by disability status, further promoting inclusivity. The department will support schools and multi-academy trusts to meet these requirements when they come into force.

Written Question
Special Educational Needs
Wednesday 9th October 2024

Asked by: Julian Smith (Conservative - Skipton and Ripon)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to continue the reforms set out in the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell

Too many families and schools are struggling to secure the provision and support they need to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and outcomes for children with SEND have suffered for far too long. This government’s ambition is to ensure 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, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools. We also want to ensure that special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Whilst we recognise the urgency and need to drive improvements, we are conscious that there are no quick fixes and want to take a considered approach to deliver sustainable education reform.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Jan 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"T7. I thank the Government for their support for rural schools on the sparsity factor and dealing with Labour’s historic legacy of underfunding for Britain’s most rural schools. Will my right hon. Friend pay tribute to schools such as Upper Wharfedale school in my constituency, which have federated with other …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 16 Oct 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"3. What steps she is taking to increase representation of women on the boards of public institutions...."
Julian Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 16 Oct 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"Does the Minister agree that as well as board appointments, it is vital that we have more women chief executives in public sector roles? Will she pay tribute to Ros Tolcher, who has become the chief executive of Harrogate hospital, which serves part of my constituency, taking to 100% the …..."
Julian Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Jul 2014
Birmingham Schools

"As well as the counter-extremism unit, my right hon. Friend’s predecessor put in place a whole set of measures for looking at barring teachers, making funding more difficult to exclude poor schools, and having no-notice inspections. Is it not vital that we reassure parents through the action that this Government …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 26 Jun 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"At the Mighty Middle conference held by GE Capital and the Reform think-tank this week, mid-sized companies from across Britain were exceptionally positive about the Government’s long-term economic plan. What more can we do to celebrate and assist those mid-sized companies?..."
Julian Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"11. What steps he is taking to help small and medium-sized businesses to export...."
Julian Smith - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"Following the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Philip Davies), will the Minister agree that the best way to exploit emerging markets is often through EU free trade agreements? In the light of that, will he support the all-party parliamentary group on European Union-United States trade and …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 10 Apr 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"The start-up loan scheme is one of the most inspirational business policies that this Government are pursuing. Can the small business Minister confirm that we are right behind it, we are putting more money into it and we will do everything we can to grow the scheme as much as …..."
Julian Smith - View Speech

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