Oral Answers to Questions

Valerie Vaz Excerpts

Monday 23rd October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)]

10. What steps her Department is taking to improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

15. What steps she is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs in Walsall South constituency.

[Mr Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con)]

16. What steps her Department is taking to improve provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Johnston]

It is probably worth saying that I am an f40 MP myself, and I met the group just last week to hear its concerns. On my hon. Friend’s point about EHCPs, through the reform plan we are working to get parents the support they need for their child at an earlier stage so that they do not always need an EHCP to get that support.

[Valerie Vaz]

There is a crisis in funding for SEND in Walsall South. In Old Church Primary, 78 pupils have special needs, which is 19% of the school total. How can the Minister target the funding to the schools that really need it? Does he agree that when Ofsted inspects, it should take into account children with special needs in schools such as Old Church so that these are mitigating factors?

[David Johnston]

The right hon. Lady makes an important point about the role of Ofsted and ensuring that it assesses that provision. It is worth saying that there will have been a 36% per-head increase in Walsall between 2021-22 and 2024-25, but I would be happy to meet her to discuss the issue further.