Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that SEND children with an education and health care plan receive the necessary support in school throughout their education.

The department’s ambition for all children and young people, no matter their special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), is that they receive the right support to succeed in their education. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, every mainstream school is required to identify and address the SEND of the pupils they support and use their best endeavours to make sure that they get the support they need.

The SEND Code of Practice explains that education, health and care (EHC) plans should be focused on education, training, health and care outcomes that will enable children and young people to progress in their learning and, as they get older, to be well prepared for adulthood. It is the responsibility of the local authority to ensure that the support specified in an EHC plan is delivered by the named school.

Through our contract with the National Association for Special Educational Needs, we have funded the Whole School SEND Consortium to equip staff in mainstream and special schools to deliver high quality teaching to all children and young people with SEND.

In addition, the SEND Review is seeking to improve the outcomes and experience of all children and young people with SEND, within a sustainable system. The Review will publish as a green paper for full public consultation in the first three months of this year.