On Monday 10th October, in the first parliamentary session following conference season, Jo Churchill MP held the Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP to account regarding the effective delivery of special educational needs provisions.
During an oral question session to the Secretary of State and Ministers of the Department, Jo Churchill MP raised her concerns:
“As the Minister is no doubt aware, my Bury St Edmunds constituency benefits from having outstanding provision in this sector at the Priory School and I hope, shortly, to visit new facilities on Angel Hill and Mount Road. However there are challenges in this sector particularly to ensure all children are supported to make the most of their talents and abilities.
What is the Minister doing to look at the quality of Education Health and Care Plan; the rate of conversions from statements, the timeliness of those transfers and the quality of them once received?”
Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, Edward Timpson MP responded:
“I can assure my Honourable Friend that the Department is monitoring closely the rate of conversions from statements, and the timeliness of transfers through our annual data collection process. And where local authority’s performance is a concern we followed up by our team of professional advisors offering support and challenge. We also have to check the quality of plans in local authorities they visit and offer advice as to how we improve because that is a key part of ensuring our reforms work for children and young people with SEND.”
Speaking after the session, Jo Churchill MP commented:
“It is absolutely vital that special educational needs (SEND) provisions deliver the means in which children and young people can succeed to the best of their abilities.
A number of concerns have been raised with me about the delivery of SEND provisions in Suffolk, particularly around the implementation of Education, Care and Health Plans. With excellent schools in Bury St Edmunds like the Priory School, providing outstanding specialist teaching, I want to make ensure all our children can access specialist services when required.
That is why I put this question to the Minister to gain assurances that the £80 million investment in SEND, announced in January 2016, will deliver improvements to the quality of care SEND children and families receive. Following this response, I will continue to monitor and work with all concerned to ensure children and families and fully supported.”
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/089204e3-e373-4f97-89e2-6a05d97801ad?in=14:50:00&out=14:51:40