Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Education on the adequacy of levels of support available in mainstream education environments to young people with a physical disability but without a diagnosis of a learning disability.

The government is committed to working with local authorities and education settings to ensure that all children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), receive the support they need to thrive in mainstream education. Schools are expected to use their best endeavours to identify and support pupils’ needs, regardless of diagnosis, and to review the adequacy of support through the graduated approach set out in the SEND Code of Practice, which involves assessing needs and regularly reviewing support to ensure it remains effective.

Settings also have clear duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled pupils are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to peers, and we are strengthening guidance to support settings to apply these duties.

We are investing £1.6 billion through the Inclusive Mainstream Fund to support earlier intervention, alongside at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025/2026 and 2029/2030 to expand inclusion bases, improve accessibility and create additional special school places for complex needs. We will also develop National Inclusion Standards to support educators to meet pupils’ needs.