Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities can use the Special Provision Capital Fund to purchase radio aids for use by pre-school age deaf children.

The government has committed £215 million of capital funding to help local authorities create new school places and improve existing facilities for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, in consultation with parents and providers. The funding is not intended for individual equipment, however this capital is not ring-fenced and local authorities can use it as they see fit to improve special provision for children and young people with education, health and care (EHC) plans.

The government has a range of funding available for local authorities to support early years providers and families of children with special educational needs and disabilities. This includes high needs funding, which can be spent on services for children under compulsory school age, regardless of whether they have an EHC plan.