§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average time taken in the English local education authorities to produce statements on children with individual learning needs; what plans he has to improve the time; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthInformation for each local education authority is not available centrally. However, there is recent evidence that some authorities are failing to meet the Government's guideline that the procedures for assessment and the issue of a statement should not exceed six months. The Government have now decided that there should be comprehensive provisions for regulating the time and way in which the assessment and statementing procedures are carried out.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will designate by local authority the number of parents who are appealing against the refusal to make a statement about their child.
§ Mr. ForthMy right hon. Friend is currently considering 50 appeals from parents or their advocates under section 5(6) of the Education Act 1981 against the refusal of the local education authority to make a statement of special educational needs. The authorities concerned are as follows:
- Avon (2)
- London Borough of Barking
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire (2)
- Bradford
- London Borough of Brent
- Buckinghamshire (3)
- Bury
- Cheshire (3)
- Cumbria (3)
- Devon
- Dorset
- Gloucestershire
- London Borough of Greenwich
- London Borough of Havering
- Hampshire
- Hertfordshire
- London Borough of Hounslow (3)
- Humberside
- Kent (2)
- Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Northamptonshire (5)
- Oxfordshire
- London Borough of Richmond (2)
- Somerset
- Shropshire (2)
- Stockport (2)
- Wakefield
- London Borough of Waltham Forest
- Wiltshire
- Wirral