Disabled children often face greater barriers to attending school than their peers, but the government is clear that the attendance ambition for these pupils should be the same as for any other pupil.<\/p>
The department\u2019s new \u2018Working together to improve school attendance\u2019 guidance (attached) sets expectations on schools to be mindful of the barriers that disabled children face and put in place additional support where necessary to access full-time education, including making reasonable adjustments (for example, to uniforms or school routines). The department\u2019s attendance hubs, mentors and advisor programmes will help schools to meet these expectations.<\/p>
Local authorities are responsible for arranging suitable education for children of compulsory school age who, because of health reasons including long-term illness, would otherwise not receive suitable education. The department\u2019s statutory guidance, \u2018Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs\u2019 (attached), sets out clear expectations of local authorities to meet this duty including that the education provided is of good quality.<\/p>
The attached Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan and the Children\u2019s Social Care Implementation Strategy, detail commitments to providing stronger support for disabled children. This includes a Law Commission review of children\u2019s social care legislation for disabled children and a £30 million investment in innovative approaches to short breaks for disabled children. Improved attendance will be a key outcome in the new SEND and AP inclusion dashboards and in the new performance framework for AP. Information on the implementation strategy is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/childrens-social-care-stable-homes-built-on-love<\/a>.<\/p>"}
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], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1246884/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We continue to work closely with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) on researching and developing biological control methods for Japanese knotweed. Following extensive trials, we approved the release of the psyllid \u2013 Aphalara itadori<\/em> in England to tackle Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica<\/em>).<\/p> <\/p> We are also funding research into the fungal leaf-spot Mycosphaerella polygoni-cuspidatii,<\/em> which has potential as a mycoherbicide for Japanese Knotweed.<\/p>"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to advance the use of biological control of Japanese knotweed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
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