Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure schools apply a consistent, nationally defined methodology for identifying and determining whether a child has (a) special educational needs and (b) a disability, beyond those with an Education, Health and Care Plan, in the context of the Schools White Paper.

The government recognises the importance of consistent identification of special educational needs and disabilities, so that children and young people receive the right support as early as possible. We are improving the evidence base for identifying needs, while emphasising that access to support in education should not depend on a diagnosis.

To support greater consistency across the system, we are working with an expert panel to develop National Inclusion Standards. These standards will provide educators with evidence-informed tools, strategies and approaches to help identify need and support children and young people with additional needs. By 2028, we will have invested up to £15 million to develop the Standards and strengthen the underpinning evidence base.

In addition, we are investing £4 million in research led by UK Research and Innovation to develop and roll out approaches to early identification, strengths and needs assessment, and support in education settings by 2028.