Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist occupational therapists to support children and young people with SEND in schools.

The department is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England to improve access to community health services, including occupational therapy for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As we look to reform the SEND system, we want to improve how services that support early identification and intervention and whole school inclusive practice are jointly commissioned and made available to schools. The local authorities and the Integrated Care Board as joint commissioners of services will continue to play an important role in this.