§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many disabled children are currently in special schools within the South Yorkshire area; and what steps he has taken to ensure that for each child, the local education authority is issuing a statement of needs in accordance with the law.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe number of children in special schools within the southern Yorkshire area in January 1989 was 2,807. LEAs have a duty under the 1981 Education Act to identify special education needs and issue a statement when appropriate. It is for each authority to decide on their own local policy.
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates he has of the true cost of supporting disabled children in main stream education; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThe Department does not collect data on spending on children with statements of special educational needs in ordinary schools.
§ Mr. PatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of in-service teacher training on disability awareness; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthNo information is collected centrally on the extent of awareness training on disability. The Government provide substantial support, through the local education authority training grants scheme, for training to meet special educational needs, which include certain disabilities. Five categories of training in respect of special educational needs are currently designated as national priorities, eligible for support at the higher rate of grant under the scheme. In the current financial year, grant is available to support expenditure of £6.6 million in these areas. In addition, authorities are free to draw on the grant available to them under the scheme at the lower rate, in support of further expenditure at their discretion on training on aspects of disability.