Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Every child achieving and thriving White Paper, published 23 February 2026, what plans she has for the future funding of local authority sensory support teams.

The department will introduce a nationally consistent set of Specialist Provision Packages for children and young people with the most complex needs, including those children with sensory support needs. The packages will outline the specialist provision and workforce required to meet those needs consistently across the country.

A national cost framework for these packages will also be developed. Local authorities will be expected to commission placements in line with this framework, whether in specialist provision within mainstream settings, special or alternative provision schools, or other settings, including the independent sector.

As set out in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) consultation, the earliest potential implementation of Specialist Provision Packages is from September 2029. Proposals may continue to evolve following analysis of consultation responses and the legislative process. Any new funding arrangements will be subject to future legislation and policy decisions, and we would expect to engage stakeholders and consult on any new funding arrangements in due course.

Alongside this, the department is investing around £1.8 billion over three years for local area partnerships to develop an Experts at Hand offer, designed to help mainstream education settings meet the needs of children and young people with SEND more effectively and inclusively. This includes access to specialist teachers, both local authority-based and those based in specialist or alternative provision settings.