Handicapped Children (Hansard, 8 June 1982)

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what his Department is doing to encourage the expansion of the peripatetic teaching provision for children with disabilities or significant difficulties below school age.

§ Dr. Boyson
It is for local education authorities to assess the need for teachers in various categories in order to carry out their duties in respect of their individual areas, and to expand or contract the provision accordingly. My right hon. Friend has no plans to interfere in this function.

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent his Department is encouraging local education authorities and voluntary bodies to integrate children with special needs into the community by offering assistance to play groups and day nurseries.

§ Dr. Boyson
Local education authorities provide nursery education in nursery schools and nursery classes attached to primary schools. It is for authorities themselves to decide to what extent they will make such provision and on what basis they will admit pupils. But the Department continues to stress its views on the importance of early education for handicapped children, which was set out in paragraph 12 of circular 2/73, and nursery building provision, which will benefit such children receives priority in the Department's allocation of capital resources. Authorities are also encouraged to offer support to voluntary playgroups in the form for example of accommodation in surplus primary classrooms.

§ Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision his Department has made, in the light of the findings of the committee of inquiry into the education of handicapped children and young people, to alleviate the particular difficulty faced by families from ethnic minority groups in obtaining help and support for children with disabilities or serious difficulties.

§ Dr. Boyson
As the Warnock Committee recognised, any special help for children from ethnic minorities would be a matter for local arrangements to meet specific needs. My right hon. Friend hopes that in assessing such children and arranging the provision of special education for them, local education authorities will give careful and sympathetic attention to such needs.