Special Educational Needs (Hansard, 6 March 1998)

HC Deb 06 March 1998 vol 307 cc799-800W 799W

§ Mr. Patrick Hall
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how he intends to respond to concerns expressed by the Governors of St. John's School, Kempston, about the proposals in the Green Paper, "Excellence for all Children-Meeting Special Educational Needs", regarding(a) the legal status of statements of special educational needs and (b) a redefined role for special schools and the effect upon parental choice. [31758]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
We are at present considering the many thoughtful comments on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Green Paper. In the light of those responses, and taking account of advice form the National Advisory Group on SEN, we expect to announce an action programme in the summer.
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The Green Paper did not propose changes to the fundamental legal framework for SEN. Parents will continue to have the right to seek a statutory assessment and a statement of SEN for their child. The Green Paper also made clear that we will maintain parents' present right to express a preference for a special school place for their child.

§ Mr. Reed
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve the integration of services with local authorities in the delivery of statements of special educational need. [31974]

§ Ms Estelle Morris
The Department will shortly be publishing a report by Newcastle University of a DfEE-funded research project on effective communication between schools, LEAs, and health and social services in the field of special educational needs (SEN). The report will help LEAs to improve the integration of services in the delivery of statements and other aspects of SEN by providing models of effective co-operation; by recommending ways in which co-operation and decision-making in the field of SEN can be improved; and by setting out practical measures to achieve this improvement. More broadly, this is an issue which we shall be addressing in the Government's response to consultation on the Green Paper "Excellence for all Children—Meeting Special Educational Needs".