§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors are taken into account when classifying children as having66W moderate learning difficulties; what plans he has to review the statementing system; and if he will make a statement. [61502]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Code of Practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs includes guidance on the factors to be taken into account in deciding whether a child with learning difficulties should be given a statement. These include whether the child is working at a level significantly below his contemporaries in any of the core subjects of the National Curriculum; whether there is evidence that the child is falling progressively behind the majority of children of his or her age in academic attainment; whether there is evidence of impaired social interaction or communication; and whether the child has a significantly restricted repertoire of activities, interests and imaginative development. The recent publication "Meeting Special Educational Needs: A programme of action" makes it clear that the Government have no intention of removing the legal protection offered by statements or of constraining parents' access to a statutory assessment where they believe it is necessary. There are however wide variations between LEAs in making statements. The Government therefore propose to publish non-statutory guidance on criteria for statements drawing on a range of examples of current practice.