§ 26. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further provision he intends to make for the education of mentally handicapped children.
§ Dr. BoysonResponsibility for ensuring that educational provision is available for mentally handicapped children, as for other childen, rests with local education authorities. If the right hon. Member has any particular point in mind I shall be happy to look into it if he would be kind enough to let me have the details.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to provide that information on mentally handicapped children is available only to those who need to use it, that any use will be recorded and that the parents will have the right to know who has seen it.
§ Dr. BoysonNo. The transmission of information about any pupil is a matter for the local education 239W authority, which my right hon. and learned Friend would expect to act responsibly in consultation as necessary with the parents.
If the hon. Member has in mind any particular case where difficulties have arisen, perhaps she would let the Department have details.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will take steps to provide that parents of mentally handicapped children have the right to be present during the assessment of their children for educational purposes;
(2) if he will give the parents of mentally handicapped children the right to produce expert witnesses or evidence at any assessment of their children and on appeal to the Secretary of State.
§ Dr. BoysonI refer the hon. Member to the Education Bill currently before the House. I am sending her a copy of the notes of guidance prepared by my Department on each clause of the Bill.
The Bill provides in clause 5 and schedule 1 for the parents to make representations and submit evidence about their child's special educational needs during the assessment procedures. Schedule 1 also provides for the parent to be present at examinations of the child. Clause 7 makes provision for the parent to receive a copy of a proposed statement of the child's special educational needs and allows the parent to make further representations. Clause 8 provides for the parent to appeal initially to a local appeal committee and subsequently to the Secretary of State. Under the provisions of schedule 2 to the Education Act 1980 the local appeal committee must allow the parent to make oral representations and may allow the appellant to be accompanied by a friend or to be represented.
My right hon. and learned Friend is satisfied that parental rights to be consulted and to make representations about the education of a child with complex special educational needs are thoroughly protected in the Bill.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to provide that parents of mentally handicapped children have the right to see all the data that are recorded on their child at all times.
§ Dr. BoysonThe Education Bill currently before the House provides in clause 7 for the parents of children with complex learning difficulties to be given a copy of a detailed statement of their child's special educational needs as revealed by multi-professional assessment. While the Bill as drafted does not give parents a specific right to see professional reports produced for the purpose of assessment, it does not prevent local education authorities from making further information available to parents at their discretion.