§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how calculations are made of special educational support grant in budgeting for special educational needs; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what allowances are made to local education authorities for special educational needs; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what allowances have been made available to local education authorities for special educational needs in the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. Friend determines each year the distribution of education support grants (ESGs)
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England and Wales Lancashire Number As a percentage of full-time teachers in post Number As a percentage of full-time teachers in post Nursery and primary schools 3,297 1.8 105 2.1 Of which, main age group of deployment: nursery 197 2.2 7 — infant 1,122 2.2 34 — junior 1,159 1.5 37 — more than one age group 819 — 27 — Secondary schools 2,529 1.2 88 1.6 Of which: head and deputy head teacher posts 264 1.6 12 — main scale posts, by subject: mathematics 263 1.1 8 — sciences 310 1.1 7 — languages 261 1.7 9 — English 253 1.1 15 — history, geography or social studies 180 0.8 6 — CDT, craft or art 180 0.9 9 — music 103 2.1 2 — physical education 165 1.2 5 — remedial 90 1.6 6 — other subjects 460 1.5 9 — Total nursery, primary and secondary schools 5,826 1.5 193 1.8 (ESGs) and local education authority training grants (LEATGs) in the light of current needs and priorities, including those relating to special educational needs (SEN). Over the past five years, allocations have been made under the ESGs and LEATGs programmes (and he latter's predecessor, the in-service teacher training grant scheme) for a variety of activities to promote SEN provision and training in both the schools and further education sectors. The allocations of supported expensditure totalled:
Year Total expenditure supported under SEN-related ESG and LEA TGs activities (£ million) 1985–86 4.3 1986–87 3.8 1987–88 6.3 1988–89 10.8 1989–90 8.6 These specific grants are additional to the general rate support grant (RSG) allocations which each local authority received in the years in question. The distribution of RSG between authorities takes account of additional education needs, including SEN. But it is for each authority to determine the deployment of its RSG allocation, and the pattern of spending between different aspects of its services, including SEN provision.