Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in the final report of the spotlight inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers, published on 22 February 2022, that speech, language and communication needs can be a key barrier which when unsupported can act to limit the development of important relationships and community networks.

The department wants all children and young people, no matter what their special educational need or disability, to be able to reach their full potential and receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. This includes looked-after children and care leavers with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

All local authorities must appoint a virtual school head (VSH), who has a statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of all children in their care, wherever they live or are educated. All looked-after children attract pupil premium plus funding of £2,345 per child per year, which is managed by the VSH to address educational and development needs, including SLCN, identified in their personal education plan, and the support needed to address them.

Under the Children and Families Act 2014, all schools are required to identify and address the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) of the pupils they support, including looked-after children and care leavers with SLCN. Schools are also required to make sure that a child or young person gets the support they need.

The government recognises that the current SEND system does not deliver the outcomes we want and expect for all children and young people with SEND, their families or the people and services who support them. The government is reviewing the system and looking at ways to make sure it is more consistent, high quality, and integrated across education, health and care. The outcome of that review will be published as a green paper for full public consultation by the end of March 2022.