§ 15. Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding provision for children with special educational needs in Essex. [59117]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeOver the past year, my Department has received some 250 letters from members of the public, the Essex Local Education Authority, hon. Members and others about provision for children with special educational needs in Essex. These include responses to the Green Paper "Excellence for all children".
§ 21. Mr. BayleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to support children with special educational needs. [59124]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeOur plans for supporting children with special educational needs (SEN) are set out in 757W Meeting Special Educational Needs: A programme of action, published on 5 November. They include:
better support and advice for parents and carers of children with SEN;improving the SEN framework, but retaining parents' rights to seek a statutory assessment and statement of SEN;developing a more inclusive education system;developing the knowledge and skills of all staff working with children with SEN; andpromoting partnership in SEN locally, regionally and nationally.Implementation of the Action Programme will be supported by funding of almost £60 million in 1999–2000.
§ 24. Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his policy towards integrating children with special educational needs into mainstream schools. [59128]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Action Programme—"Meeting Special Educational Needs"—published on 5 November, sets out steps to promote further inclusion of children with special educational needs where parents want it and appropriate support can be provided. We are providing financial support of up to £8 million in 1999–2000 through the SEN Standards Fund to promote inclusion, and increasing the capital support under the Schools Access Initiative from the £4 million we inherited to £20 million.
30. Dr. Desmond TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his proposal to enhance the early detection and support provision for children with learning difficulties. [59134]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeOn 5 November 1998 we publishedMeeting Special Educational Needs: A programme for action. This explains how through our early years policies such as the new Sure Start programme, the Early Years Development and Child Care Planning process, our Early Excellence Centres, the introduction of baseline assessment and the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies we will encourage earlier identification of difficulties and appropriate early intervention. It also sets out the practical steps we will take to support children with special educational needs, including those with learning difficulties.
§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the £56 million for funding of an early intervention programme includes funding for a specific training module for special educational needs for new teachers at teacher training college. [56900]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThere are no specific modules for special educational needs which trainees must take as part of their initial training. However since May this year, in order successfully to complete a course of initial training, all trainee teachers must have demonstrated that they can identify pupils who have special educational needs and know where to get help in order to give positive and targeted support.