Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure temporary accommodation in rural areas is (a) safe and (b) accessible for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The statutory homelessness code of guidance sets out that temporary accommodation placements must be suitable to the needs of a household, including the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The code of guidance sets out that authorities should ensure that all accommodation is free of health and safety hazards at the most dangerous ‘category 1’ level, assessed using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. You can access Chapter 17 of the code of guidance through gov.uk here.

The government is helping councils invest in good-quality temporary accommodation through delivery of the £950 million fourth round of the Local Authority Housing Fund. To increase the support available to children placed in temporary accommodation, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act will introduce a new duty on local housing authorities to notify health and education bodies when a child is placed in temporary accommodation. This will improve partnership working and unlock appropriate support.