§ 11. Mr. Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury)When she next plans to discuss the provision of special needs education in Gloucestershire with the local education authority. [64406]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills (Mr. Stephen Twigg)The Secretary of State takes a close interest in the effectiveness of special educational needs provision in all local education authorities, through their education development plans and Ofsted inspections. Gloucestershire local education authority was required to prepare an action plan following an inspection by Ofsted in January 2002. Departmental officials are working with the authority's officers as they develop and implement their post-inspection action plan, and continue with their review of special educational needs provision in the county.
§ Mr. RobertsonI am grateful to the Minister for that response. Is he aware that Gloucestershire LEA, which is controlled by the Liberal Democrats and the Labour party working together, interprets the Government's intentions regarding inclusion as meaning that it can close all the special schools in Gloucestershire'? Indeed, it has started on that programme. Does he approve of closing all the special schools in Gloucestershire? If not, will he communicate with the authority to tell it that what it is doing is very wrong?
§ Mr. TwiggI am aware of the hon. Gentleman's long-standing interest in and views on this matter. We are not seeking to say to local authorities that they must close all their special schools. That is something that needs to be determined at local level. We want to see that done properly in Gloucestershire, as in other parts of the country. We want a proper balance between the rights of parents to have their children educated in mainstream schools, if that is what they want, and the role for special schools. As part of that, Baroness Ashton is conducting a review with a working party to examine the role that special schools can play in promoting special education.