§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many learning support units are(a) planned and (b) operating in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Nottinghamshire and (iii) Nottingham; and what the time scale is for the establishment of learning support units in each of those areas. [135487]
§ Jacqui SmithWe are planning to have over 1,000 Learning Support Units established in England by 2002. For information about the plans and time scales for Units in Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 19 July 2000,Official Report, column 201W.
The number of Units currently operating in England is around 500 of which 16 are in Nottinghamshire.
Information about the number of Units in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the curriculum is for pupils in learning support units. [135483]
§ Jacqui SmithThis is for the mainstream and unit staff to determine in the light of pupils' individual needs and circumstances. But unit staff should both liaise closely with the school's teaching staff in setting and marking suitable work, and consult the senior management team in fixing the details of an appropriate curriculum.