Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether guidance on universal screening for neurodivergence will be included in the proposed National Inclusion Standards.

The department will appoint an independent panel of experts, selected for their skills, knowledge, and professional standing, and led by health and education co-chairs, to design the National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages.

The National Inclusion Standards will set out what ordinarily available provision should be in every setting across the 0 to 25 system, as well as the evidence-based tools, strategies and approaches for educators to draw on to identify and support children and young people with additional needs, including for those who are neurodivergent.

New government-backed research led by UK Research and Innovation will develop and test approaches to early identification, including screening tools, that can be embedded in education settings nationwide. Together, these measures are intended to ensure that every child receives the right support at the right time, helping them to thrive both in education and beyond.