Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the proposed SEND and Alternative Provision Green Papers on support for children with speech and language difficulties.

The Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper set out a whole system review, looking at how the department can improve the SEND system for every child and young person, no matter their specific need or condition.

The department’s vision for children and young people with SEND, including those with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), is the same as it is for all children and young people. The department wants children with SEND to achieve well in their early years, at school, and in further education. Early this year, we will publish a SEND and AP Improvement Plan, confirming plans over the proposals contained in the Green Paper. This will include details on new SEND and AP National Standards, which aim to set clear and ambitious expectations about identifying and meeting needs, including for SLCN.

In addition, the department is investing £17 million to deliver the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme. The programme supports children in reception with their language skills. In total, over 11,100 schools, or two thirds of all primary schools, are taking part in this proven, evidence-based programme, benefitting around 90,000 children most in need of language support. Registered schools are eligible to continue to receive the funded programme during the 2022/23 academic year.