§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to include in the code of practice on special educational needs guidelines on evidence which local education authorities will need to have available in order to make a decision as to whether or not to make a statement, with particular reference to evidence that relevant and purposeful measures have been taken to meet the child's special educational needs in his or her present school and that these have proved to be insufficient.
§ Mr. ForthParts III and IV of the draft code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs contain extensive guidance to local education authorities on the evidence they should consider when deciding whether to make assessments and statements, including evidence about the special educational provision made by the child's mainstream school. My right hon. Friend will consider all representations received during the consultation process on the draft code and lay a revised code before Parliament.
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§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to establish guidelines in the code of practice on special education needs defining the level of resources which should be normally available, or to designate this more clearly as a responsibility of the local education authorities;
(2) what is his policy on the balance local education authorities should endeavour to achieve between resources allocated to schools to help cater for pupils with special educational needs and resources held centrally in order to provide resources for pupils with statements;
(3) what guidance is given in the draft code of practice on special educational needs, about the proportion of their budgets local education authorities should allocate towards special educational needs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthIt is and will remain for local education authorities, in the light of local policies and circumstances, to decide what level of resources will normally be available to schools in their area; the proportion of their general schools budgets to be allocated to special educational needs; and the balance between resources delegated to schools and those held centrally for pupils with special educational needs. The Department has recently issued guidance on the local management of schools in circular 2/94. My right hon. Friend will consider all comments
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Grant maintained schools1 applications for change of age range School Local education authority Proposal date Decision Decision date Capital funding requested £ To add or extend sixth form Highams Park School Waltham Forest 14 January 1991 Rejected 11 May 1992 500,000 Chalvedon School Essex 5 June 1991 Approved 27 August 1991 Nil The Cornwallis School Kent 15 November 1991 Approved 5 March 1992 Nil Baverstock GM School Birmingham 3 February 1992 Approved 15 June 1992 Nil Moseley Park GM School Wolverhampton 30 March 1992 Approved 17 August 1992 Nil The Maplesden Noakes School Kent 3 April 1992 Approved 16 July 1992 Nil West Hatch School Essex 30 April 1992 Approved 30 July 1992 Nil Beauchamps GM School Essex 4 June 1992 Approved 17 August 1992 Nil Bromfords School Essex 4 June 1992 Approved 17 August 1992 Nil Aylesford School Kent 10 July 1992 Rejected 5 March 1993 Nil Thamesview School Kent 15 July 1992 To be republished — Nil Senacre Technology School Kent 24 July 1992 To be republished — Nil Higham Park School Waltham Forest 31 July 1992 Approved 2 February 1993 519,236 Wrotham School Kent 6 August 1992 Rejected 5 March 1993 Nil Senacre Technology School Kent 4 September 1992 Rejected 5 March 1993 Nil Thamesview School Kent 16 September 1992 Rejected 5 March 1993 Nil Oldborough Manor Community Kent 18 September 1992 Rejected 5 March 1993 Nil Ringwood School Hampshire 2 October 1992 Approved 16 February 1994 300,000 Small Heath School Birmingham 19 October 1992 Approved 5 May 1993 Nil The Queen's School Cambridgeshire 23 October 1992 Rejected 1 July 1993 410 Queen Elizabeth School, Atherstone Warwickshire 5 November 1992 Approved 3 March 1993 Nil The Arnewood School Hampshire 7 November 1992 Approved 16 February 1994 550,150 The Philip Morant School Essex 11 December 1992 Rejected 28 July 1993 Nil St. Augustines Comprehensive School Wiltshire 15 January 1993 Under consideration — Nil The Burgate School Hampshire 21 January 1993 Approved 16 February 1994 520,000 Sawtry Village College Cambridgeshire 3 February 1993 To be republished 11 February 1993 Nil Sawtry Village College Cambridgeshire 18 February 1993 Approved 4 June 1993 Nil Heathside Secondary School Surrey 8 April 1993 Rejected 24 August 1993 Nil Meopham GM School Kent 15 April 1993 Rejected 10 August 1993 Nil The Merrill Community School Derbyshire 20 April 1993 Approved 16 February 1994 Nil Chellaston School Derbyshire 24 April 1993 Approved 16 February 1994 1,055,000 The Frances Bardsley School Havering 8 June 1993 Under consideration — Nil The King John School Essex 12 July 1993 Approved 16 February 1994 491,951 The Thorpe Bay High School Essex 12 July 1993 Rejected 23 February 1994 Nil William Farr CE School Lincolnshire 19 July 1993 Approved 2 March 1994 Nil Sheringham High School Norfolk 30 July 1993 Approved 16 February 1994 Nil The New Wellington High School Trafford 30 July 1993 Under consideration — Nil Costessey High School Norfolk 16 August 1993 Under consideration — Nil Noel Baker Community School Derbyshire 4 November 1993 Under consideration — Nil Gleed Girls GM School Lincolnshire 26 November 1993 Under consideration — Nil received during the consultation process on the draft code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs. He will lay a revised code before Parliament in due course.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to set up a national representative group to monitor the implementation of the proposed code of practice on special educational needs.
§ Mr. ForthNone. The Department will, with Office of Standards in Education and others, monitor closely the implementation of all aspects of part III of the 1993 Act, including the code of practice.