Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) expertise in the private, voluntary and independent specialist sectors will be protected and utilised under the SEND reforms.

The private, voluntary and independent specialist sectors play an important role in supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across the 0-25 system.

The department has engaged extensively with providers and representative organisations from across the specialist sector throughout the development of our proposed SEND reforms, including those working in early years and post-16 provision. We are carefully reviewing all consultation responses and continuing to engage widely on our proposals. To ensure reforms work in practice, we are committed to co-designing them with children, families and professionals, and testing and refining our proposals collaboratively. Ministers are holding regular meetings with campaigners and disabled children’s organisations to hear a range of views and perspectives on the proposed reforms.