§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the special educational needs code of practice arising from section 157(1) of the Education Act 1993 will be applied to small-scale voluntary daycare centres operating the proposed pre-school provision funded by education vouchers; and by what means she will ensure(a) that children with special educational needs will be considered for statementing and (b) that when statemented, full provision for their needs will be made available as a consequence. [8188]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe responsibilities of local authorities to identify and make a statutory assessment of those children who probably need a statement, to make a statement where appropriate and to satisfy themselves that provision is made available in accordance with the statement, remain unchanged.
152WMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering making it a requirement for all voucher redeeming institutions to have regard to the special educational needs code of practice.
All nursery voucher redeeming institutions will be expected to include in published information for parents details of their special educational needs policy.