HC Deb 14 December 1995 vol 268 cc745-6W
Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans there are to make conductive education available for children whose parents choose it. [5834]

Mrs. Gillan

Responsibility for providing for children with special educational needs rests with local education authorities. For those children whose needs cannot be met within the ordinary resources of a mainstream school, LEAs will maintain statements of SEN, drawn up in consultation with parents. Where a child's statement specifies conductive education, the LEA has a duty to secure its provision.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment has been made of the value and achievements of conductive education. [5816]

Mrs. Gillan

The results of a Department-funded five-year research project undertaken by the university of Birmingham were published in 1993. These indicated that conductive education did not generally produce better results than other methods for teaching children with cerebral palsy.

Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many institutions provide conductive education for children with special educational needs; and how many children are currently receiving conductive therapy in each institution. [5811]

Mrs. Gillan

The Department does not collect this information.