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1104878
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-03-25more like thismore than 2019-03-25
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Teachers more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the February 2019 Sutton Trust report which found that disadvantaged young people are more likely to be taught by teachers with less experience and lower qualifications; and whether he is taking steps to improve teacher recruitment in disadvantaged areas. more like this
tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
uin 236437 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-03-28more like thismore than 2019-03-28
answer text <p>In January 2019 the Department launched the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy which outlines four key areas for reform and investment. These include creating the right climate for leaders to establish supportive school cultures, transforming support for early career teachers, building a career structure that remains attractive to teachers as their careers develop, and making it easier for people to become teachers.</p><p> </p><p>Designed collaboratively with the education sector, the strategy commits the Government to creating the strongest development and progression opportunities for teachers working in the schools and areas that need them most. The full strategy can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy</a>.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this, the Department is piloting two new financial incentives which encourage individuals to teach in disadvantaged areas. The Department is offering two uplifted mathematics early career payments of £7,500 rather than £5,000 to those who complete initial teacher training (ITT) and go on to teach in 39 high-need local authorities. It is also piloting teachers’ student loan reimbursement for languages and science teachers in 25 high need local authorities.</p><p>The Department is also investing more in challenging areas to create enhanced development and progression opportunities. For example, the Department is investing £20 million in scholarships to drive take up of the reformed leadership national professional qualifications in the most challenging areas.</p><p>The Department’s investment in Teach First (TF) also supports recruitment for schools in disadvantaged areas. The department funds TF to deliver an employment based route into teaching, with trainees completing a two year leadership development programme. It is a premium route into teaching, attracting high calibre trainees into the profession. In 2016/17, 93% of TF trainees had a 2:1 or above, compared with 73% across post graduate routes. These high quality trainees are placed in schools in disadvantaged areas that might otherwise struggle to attract this quality of applicant.</p><p>The Department recognises that some schools have greater issues with recruitment and retention than others. That is why it is delivering a £30 million investment in tailored support to get more great teachers into schools in disadvantaged areas that are facing challenges with teacher supply.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton more like this
answering member printed Nick Gibb more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-03-28T16:22:22.077Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-28T16:22:22.077Z
answering member
111
label Biography information for Nick Gibb more like this
tabling member
4243
label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1090910
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-03-18more like thismore than 2019-03-18
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Interserve: Apprentices more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many apprentices are currently receiving training from Interserve Learning and Employment; what steps he is taking to ensure they complete their apprenticeships; and what contracts his Department holds with Interserve and its subsidiaries. more like this
tabling member constituency Ashton-under-Lyne more like this
tabling member printed
Angela Rayner more like this
uin 233561 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-03-21more like thismore than 2019-03-21
answer text <p>The latest individual learner record return for February 2019 indicates that Interserve Learning &amp; Employment (Services) Ltd is working with 4,073 apprentices employed by both levy and non-levy paying employers. Interserve is currently working with 1,990 employers.</p><p>Interserve is currently providing continuity of service to all apprentices and their employers and is operating as normal with no disruption to current operations. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) currently holds contracts to the value of £9,579,144 with Interserve Learning and Employment (Services) Ltd (this was published in the funding summary in January 2019).</p><p>In addition, Interserve Learning and Employment (Services) Ltd has 5 European Social Funded contracts with the ESFA that started between April and November 2016 and that will end in March 2019. The total value of these contracts is £19,542,601.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Guildford more like this
answering member printed Anne Milton more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-03-21T16:13:56.14Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-21T16:13:56.14Z
answering member
1523
label Biography information for Anne Milton more like this
tabling member
4356
label Biography information for Angela Rayner more like this
1086732
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-03-11more like thismore than 2019-03-11
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Universities: Admissions more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge on the implications of the findings of the Sutton Trust report on Access to Advantage for his Department's policies. more like this
tabling member constituency Ellesmere Port and Neston more like this
tabling member printed
Justin Madders more like this
uin 230819 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-03-19more like thismore than 2019-03-19
answer text <p>Widening access and participation in higher education is a priority for this government. Everyone with the capability to succeed in higher education should have the opportunity to benefit from a university education, regardless of background or where they grew up.</p><p> </p><p>This year, record rates of English 18 year olds, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, have entered full-time university. However, more could and should be done. That is why in our recent guidance to the Office for Students, we asked them to continue in its efforts to secure greater and faster progress in ensuring that students from disadvantaged and under-represented groups can access and successfully participate in higher education, including at the most selective providers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, a new transparency condition requires higher education providers to publish application, offer, acceptance, non-continuation and attainment rates by socio-economic background, gender and ethnicity. It will provide greater transparency and help drive fairness on admissions and outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>Prior attainment is a critical factor, and the government has asked higher education providers to take on a more direct role in helping to raise attainment in schools as part of their outreach activity. All providers are expected to help raise attainment and support school improvement, including through school sponsorship and by establishing new state schools.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Kingswood more like this
answering member printed Chris Skidmore more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-03-19T15:46:51.09Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-19T15:46:51.09Z
answering member
4021
label Biography information for Chris Skidmore more like this
tabling member
4418
label Biography information for Justin Madders more like this
1082314
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-03-05more like thismore than 2019-03-05
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Higher Education: Finance more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish the review of post-18 education and funding. more like this
tabling member constituency Wantage more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Edward Vaizey more like this
uin 228643 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-03-13more like thismore than 2019-03-13
answer text <p>The independent panel will report shortly. The government will then conclude the overall review later this year.</p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency Kingswood more like this
answering member printed Chris Skidmore more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-03-13T16:54:36.137Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-13T16:54:36.137Z
answering member
4021
label Biography information for Chris Skidmore more like this
tabling member
1580
label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot more like this
1059755
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-02-12more like thismore than 2019-02-12
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Education: North of England more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s report, Educating the North, published May 2018, what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of education in (a) the North and (b) the Sheffield City Region. more like this
tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
uin 220222 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-19more like thismore than 2019-02-19
answer text <p>My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State welcomed the Northern Powerhouse Partnership’s report, ‘Educating the North’. In response to it, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State wrote to my right hon. Friend, the Member for Harlow and Chair of the Education Committee, on 13 June 2018, detailing the government’s clear plan for improving education and skills in the North. A copy of that letter is available here: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/education-in-the-north-inquiry-17-19/publications/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/education-in-the-north-inquiry-17-19/publications/</a>.</p><p>I refer the hon. Member for Barnsley Central to the answer I gave on 11 June 2018 to Questions <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-05-02/140737/" target="_blank">140737, 140738, 140739</a> and to the answer I gave on 18 July 2018 to Questions <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-07-10/162577/" target="_blank">162577, 162578</a>. These responses set out further details of the initiatives referred to in that letter.</p><p>We have launched a school improvement support offer which means schools eligible for support have access to up to 3 days free advice from a national leader of education (NLE). A subset of these schools, judged as 'requires improvement' in their last 2 Ofsted inspections, will have access of up to £16,000 of funded support to address the needs identified by the NLE. In the Sheffield City Region and across the North, a first cohort of schools is currently being offered school improvement support with further eligible schools to be identified later in 2019. In addition, there are 10 projects funded through the Strategic School Improvement Fund (SSIF) where the lead applicant is based in the Sheffield City Region. In total these projects have been awarded over £3 million. These are among the 57 SSIF projects where the lead applicant is based in the Northern Powerhouse area. In total, these projects have been awarded just over £20 million. The complete list of successful applicants is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-school-improvement-fund-successful-applicants/strategic-school-improvement-fund-ssif-successful-applicants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-school-improvement-fund-successful-applicants/strategic-school-improvement-fund-ssif-successful-applicants</a>.</p><p>A further cohort of schools in the Sheffield City Region and across the North, identified as facing significant challenges with teacher recruitment and retention, is receiving funded support to address those issues.</p><p>The department is working closely with the social mobility partnership South Yorkshire Futures, on our shared aims of improving educational outcomes across the Sheffield City Region and has seconded 3 members of staff to support their programme. A link to the programme can be found here: <a href="https://southyorkshirefutures.co.uk/syf/?doing_wp_cron=1550062482.9984350204467773437500" target="_blank">https://southyorkshirefutures.co.uk/syf/?doing_wp_cron=1550062482.9984350204467773437500</a>.</p><p>5 of the 12 Department for Education-funded Opportunity Areas are in areas of low social mobility across the North, with the aim of improving educational outcomes and life chances for children and young people. Doncaster Opportunity Area is one of those areas and is working closely with South Yorkshire Futures on a number of their interventions. This includes work to improve teacher recruitment and retention in the county through funding newly qualified teacher mentoring and collaborating with the Sheffield City Region on our newly-launched Careers Hub, which aims to improve the quality of careers information, advice and guidance given to young people in the borough.</p><p>‘Educating the North’ recommended that the Opportunity Areas programme be extended to the North East. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced Opportunity North East in October 2018. The programme brings together North East leaders from education, local government and business to work together to improve outcomes for young people in the region. Through Opportunity North East the department will make a substantial investment in the region, including £12 million for the early roll-out of national reforms to improve support for new teachers, and a further £12 million to tackle the 5 key educational challenges identified for the area. Details of this announcement can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-launches-24-million-programme-for-north-east" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-launches-24-million-programme-for-north-east</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon more like this
answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-19T16:38:32.863Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-19T16:38:32.863Z
answering member
4113
label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi more like this
previous answer version
102242
answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon more like this
answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi more like this
answering member
4113
label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi more like this
tabling member
4243
label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1055800
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-02-06more like thismore than 2019-02-06
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Special Educational Needs: Barnsley more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department has allocated to special needs provision in schools in Barnsley; and what the average allocation was for schools in England in each of the last five years. more like this
tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
uin 217584 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-11more like thismore than 2019-02-11
answer text <p>Local authorities are required to provide mainstream schools with sufficient funds to enable them to meet the additional cost of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, up to the value of £6,000. This funding comes from the schools block of the dedicated schools grant. While authorities will identify a notional special educational needs (SEN) budget for each school within the school’s overall budget, that notional budget is not ring-fenced, and schools are expected to manage their overall budget to best meet the needs of all their pupils, including pupils with SEN.</p><p>When the costs of additional support required for a pupil with SEN exceed £6,000, the local authority should also allocate additional top-up funding to cover the excess costs. This top-up funding, and all funding for special schools comes from the local authority’s high needs budget. In December 2018, we announced an additional £250 million in high needs funding across the current financial year and the next, bringing Barnsley’s total high needs funding to £22.2 million in 2018-19.</p><p>The schools and high needs allocations for Barnsley since 2014-15 are as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Schools</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>High needs</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>£126.9 million</p></td><td><p>£18.4 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>£132.1 million</p></td><td><p>£18.4 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>£133.7 million</p></td><td><p>£18.9 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>£137.4 million</p></td><td><p>£21.5 million</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>£142.9 million</p></td><td><p>£22.2 million</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>As funding for special needs in mainstream schools’ budgets is not ring-fenced, the information on how much top-up funding Barnsley Council has allocated to the schools in Barnsley is not held centrally. It is not possible to provide a meaningful comparison of the average allocation for special needs provision in schools in Barnsley and England.</p><p>However, it is possible for Barnsley Council to compare their high needs spending with that of other local authorities using our high needs benchmarking tool which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-strategic-planning-fund" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-strategic-planning-fund</a>.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon more like this
answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-11T16:45:25.213Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-11T16:45:25.213Z
answering member
4113
label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi more like this
tabling member
4243
label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1054715
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-02-04more like thismore than 2019-02-04
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Secondary Education: Teachers more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase teacher recruitment in secondary schools. more like this
tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
uin 216295 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-07more like thismore than 2019-02-07
answer text <p>The Department has developed the Teaching Vacancies Service, a national search and listing service for teaching roles. This makes it easier for schools to advertise posts free of charge to tackle the up to £75 million per year spent on advertising for full time posts. The service will be available to all state schools in England by March 2019. It can be found at <a href="https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has put in place a range of measures, including generous bursaries, worth up to £26,000 for priority subjects, to encourage trainees to key subjects such as languages and physics. We are also testing new financial incentives for priority subject teachers. These include early-career payments for new maths teachers and a student loan reimbursement scheme for languages and science teachers.</p><p> </p><p>On 28 January 2019 the Department launched the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy which outlines 4 key areas for reform and investment: create the right climate for leaders to establish supportive school cultures, transform support for early career teachers, build a career offer that remains attractive to teachers as their careers and lives develop, and make it easier for great people to become teachers.</p><p>Designed collaboratively with the sector, the centrepiece of the strategy is the Early Career Framework, which will underpin a fully-funded, two-year package of structured support for all early career teachers linked to the best available research evidence. The strategy can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy</a>.</p>
answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton more like this
answering member printed Nick Gibb more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-07T12:38:28.367Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-07T12:38:28.367Z
answering member
111
label Biography information for Nick Gibb more like this
tabling member
4243
label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1052302
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-01-31more like thismore than 2019-01-31
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading T-levels: South Yorkshire more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department’s announcement: £38 million T Level Capital Fund launches, how much of the £38 million will be allocated to schools in (a) Sheffield City Region and (b) Barnsley Central constituency. more like this
tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
uin 215195 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-05more like thismore than 2019-02-05
answer text <p>The T Level Capital Fund is for 2020 providers only and will be delivered in two parts. Eligible further education providers who have been selected to deliver T levels in the academic year 2020-2021, such as Barnsley College, are able to bid for funding to refurbish their existing buildings or, where there is strong evidence to suggest a pressing need, to build new spaces. The results from this process will be known this summer.</p><p>Funding for specialist equipment, such as digital and audio-visual kit, will be allocated in spring 2020 to providers who have been selected to deliver T levels in the academic year 2020-2021. We will make allocations using a formula based on the T level routes and the student numbers expected by the providers.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Guildford more like this
answering member printed Anne Milton more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-05T14:46:46.707Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-05T14:46:46.707Z
answering member
1523
label Biography information for Anne Milton more like this
tabling member
4243
label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1050614
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-01-29more like thismore than 2019-01-29
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Special Educational Needs more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, what recent steps the Government has taken to support the (a) inclusive education of disabled children and young people and (b) progressive removal of barriers to education and participation in mainstream education. more like this
tabling member constituency Bury North more like this
tabling member printed
James Frith more like this
uin 214131 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-05more like thismore than 2019-02-05
answer text <p>The government’s commitment to inclusive education of disabled children and young people and the progressive removal of barriers to learning and participation in mainstream education is at the heart of the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. We have made substantial reforms to strengthen the SEND system in recent years, to improve the identification and meeting of the needs of children and young people and to improve families’ experiences of the system. As part of this, the Children and Families Act (2014) secured the general presumption in law of mainstream education in relation to decisions about where children and young people with SEND should be educated, complementing the protections in the Equality Act (2010) against disability discrimination.</p><p> </p><p>Recent steps we have taken to help disabled children and young people reach their full potential in mainstream education include the fact that we have been closely monitoring the pressures on high needs budgets and have provided additional high needs funding for local authorities, alongside their 2019-20 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations: a further £125 million in 2018-19 and £125 million of high needs funding for 2019-20.</p><p> </p><p>We are investing £365 million in the Special Provision Capital Fund from 2018 to 2021, helping local authorities create new school places and improve existing facilities for children and young people with SEND. This capital funding is not ring-fenced and local authorities can use it as they see fit to improve special provision in their local areas. The funding can be invested in a range of settings, including mainstream and special schools or academies. We have required local authorities to publish their plans on how they use this funding, and these show that many local authorities intend to expand their specialist provision in mainstream schools.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise the importance of staff in mainstream schools having the skills to identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEND. This is why, for example, we have awarded a 2 year, £3.4 million contract to the Whole School SEND Consortium, led by Nasen, to deliver a programme of work to drive education institutions to prioritise SEND and equip schools to identify and meet the relevant training needs of their workforce. We have also funded the Autism Education Trust since 2011 to deliver autism awareness training to education staff in early years, schools and further education settings. This training has so far reached more than 195,000 people - not just teachers and teaching assistants, but also support staff such as receptionists, dining hall staff and caretakers, encouraging a ‘whole school’ approach to supporting pupils with autism. We are also reviewing the current SEND content in the Initial Teacher Training provision (ITT) and building on our existing SEND specialist qualifications to develop a continuum of learning from ITT, through teachers’ early careers and into specialist and leadership roles in support of the upcoming Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy.</p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon more like this
answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-05T18:06:08.733Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-05T18:06:08.733Z
answering member
4113
label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi more like this
tabling member
4637
label Biography information for James Frith more like this
1050615
registered interest true remove filter
date less than 2019-01-29more like thismore than 2019-01-29
answering body
Department for Education more like this
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education remove filter
hansard heading Special Educational Needs: Free Schools more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's obligations under Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the free school programme; and how many special schools have opened under that programme. more like this
tabling member constituency Bury North more like this
tabling member printed
James Frith more like this
uin 214132 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2019-02-05more like thismore than 2019-02-05
answer text <p>Our ambition for children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities is exactly the same as it is for all children – we want them to be able to do their best in school and reach their potential, including in free schools.</p><p>As part of our commitments under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we are committed to inclusive education of disabled children and the progressive removal of barriers to learning and participation in mainstream education. The Children and Families Act 2014 secures the general presumption in law of mainstream education in relation to decisions about where children with SEN should be educated; and the Equality Act 2010 provides protection from disability discrimination. The SEN system rightly places considerable weight on the views of parents as to where a child with complex needs should be educated. While many parents of disabled children choose mainstream education, others will want a specialist setting. Some children have complex SEN that mean that the best educational experience for them is in a school that specialises in meeting those needs. For them, a special school is a positive choice.</p><p>We have opened new special schools through the free schools programme: as of 1 January 2019, there are 34 open special free schools, and a further 55 special free schools have been approved to open in the future.</p>
answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon more like this
answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi more like this
question first answered
less than 2019-02-05T17:15:14.133Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-05T17:15:14.133Z
answering member
4113
label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi more like this
tabling member
4637
label Biography information for James Frith more like this