HC Deb 14 November 1989 vol 160 cc218-9W
29. Mr. Steinberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has taken to ensure children with special educational needs receive a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to their ability under the national curriculum.

47. Mr. Harry Barnes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what measures he has taken to ensure children with special educational needs receive a broad and balanced curriculum, appropriate to their ability under the national curriculum.

Mrs. Rumbold

National curriculum attainment targets and programmes of study are being designed to allow access by the vast majority of pupils. In a small minority of cases some pupils with special educational needs may nevertheless need to have the requirements modified or lifted to meet their particular needs and abilities. However, even where exceptions have been made, maintained schools are still under a duty to ensure that the curricula they offer pupils are balanced and broadly based, in accordance with the requirements of section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988.

90. Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the level of provision for children with special educational needs.

Mr. Alan Howarth

The responsibility for making appropriate provision for children with special educational needs lies with each individual local education authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment announced on 6 November the Government's proposals for the local authority grant settlement in 1990–91, including spending on education. Those proposals allow for increased spending per pupil in 1990–91 in maintained special schools relative to that assumed within the comparable total for 1989–90. Expenditure on pupils with special educational needs in ordinary schools cannot be separately identified.