Special Educational Needs

(asked on 2nd June 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support children with (a) deafblindness or (b) other complex disabilities.


Answered by
Claire Coutinho Portrait
Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
This question was answered on 12th June 2023

It is the responsibility of local authorities, schools, and further education settings to commission appropriately qualified staff to support the education of children and young people in their area. The department is exploring further options to maximise take up of the Mandatory Qualification for Sensory Impairment, with a view to improving the supply of teachers for children with sensory impairments.

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is also developing an occupational standard for teachers of Sensory Impairment, which the department expect to be delivered from 2025. This will open a paid, work-based route into teaching children and young people with sensory impairments.

Our reforms, as set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and the Children’s Social Care Implementation strategy, detail our commitments for providing stronger support for disabled children, including:

  • A Law Commission review of children’s social care legislation for disabled children.
  • Non-stigmatising and easier to access family help.
  • A stronger focus on disabled children in Working Together.
  • New metrics that track the experiences of disabled children through the system.
  • Strengthened language to encourage areas to adopt Designated Social Care Officers.
  • A £30 million investment in innovative approaches to short breaks for disabled children.

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