§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means the Government intend to improve the literacy levels of deaf children of primary school age whose first language is Sign Language.[23347]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisAll mainstream primary schools, and the majority of special schools, will be involved in the implementation of the National Literacy Strategy, which begins this year. The strategy is an ambitious programme for achieving our national literacy target for 2002: it will be overseen by a group including Special Educational Needs interests. Part of the group's role will be to ensure that the widest possible range of children benefit, including those with all types of disability.
§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what resources are available from central Government to produce bilingual educational video materials for primary school children whose first language is Sign Language. [23348]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisSchools and local education authorities are responsible for meeting the needs of all children with special educational needs, using the funding488W available to them including principally that channelled through the local government finance settlement. Some LEAs produce their own video materials for use by signing children; others use materials produced commercially.