Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of deaf children that achieve spoken language skills; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of early intervention programmes, including Auditory Verbal therapy, on educational outcomes for deaf children.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The department is committed to ensuring that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with hearing impairment, receive the support they need to succeed in their early years, at school and at college. We recognise the importance of spoken language skills and the particular challenges that deaf children face.
The newborn hearing screening programme is offered to parents of all babies. It plays a key role in the early identification of children with hearing impairment and then in providing their parents with the right help to develop their spoken and wider communication skills. Health visitors and specialist local authority teachers provide families with advice and support to maximise the development of such skills in the early years. In addition, the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which all early years providers follow, has a strong focus on developing communication and language.
The department also has a comprehensive system for identifying where children have SEND and putting in place the right support for them, but we recognise that too often the experiences and outcomes of these children are poor. That is why earlier this year we consulted on the green paper, SEND Review: Right support, right place, right time, which set out proposals to improve the outcomes of children and young people. These proposals for strengthening the SEND system included commitments on early intervention, given the proven effectiveness of this approach. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-review-right-support-right-place-right-time.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet with Auditory Verbal UK to discuss funding for early intervention programmes for deaf children.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The department is firmly committed to ensuring that children with special education needs and disabilities, including those who are deaf, receive the support they need to succeed in their early years, at school, and at college.
The Secretary of State for Education has received an invitation to meet with Auditory Verbal UK and will reply in due course.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make the free period products scheme permanent.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
The period products scheme launched in January 2020, and has most recently been extended until July 2024.
The department will make information available about any extensions or changes to the scheme in due course.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will issue guidance to schools and colleges on consulting with students on period products in the context of the free period products scheme.
Answered by Kelly Tolhurst
Guidance regarding the free period products scheme, including the new range of products available was updated on 8 September, the same day eligible organisations can order. This was developed in line with research from schools and colleges, and period product experts. The guidance states that schools and colleges know their learners best and, therefore, have the freedom to select the most suitable products for their learners considering cost and type of product. All eligible organisations were emailed in early September to remind them of their log in details and a link to the guidance will be provided.