Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a diagnosis of cancer automatically requiring an education, health and care plan.

No such assessment has been made as we think the current set up is flexible enough to respond to situations like this. The Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice: 0-25 years is clear that the decision to carry out a needs assessment for an Education, Health and Care plan must be based on the individual needs of the child and whether it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made for them. The Code of Practice states that local authorities must not apply a ‘blanket’ policy to particular groups of children or certain types of need, as this would prevent the consideration of a child’s or young person’s needs individually and on their merits.