Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Pupil Referral Units (a) employ speech and language therapists or (b) have access to speech and language therapy services.

The 2015 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Code of Practice sets out high expectations of schools, alternative provision, and colleges about how they identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEND, including those with speech, language and communication needs. The Code emphasises that schools, including alternative provision, should work closely with their local authority and other providers to commission specialist services directly, such as speech and language therapists.

The department does not collect data on which pupil referral units employ speech and language therapists. Commissioners of alternative provision should ensure that there is a clear plan for pupils’ progression and keep the arrangements under regular review so that they can be adapted in response to the needs of the child or young person. Where an alternative provider has concerns that a child or young person may have a speech and language difficulty that is not being appropriately supported, then they should raise their concerns with the commissioner and agree how these potential needs will be assessed and supported.