§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on integrating pupils with(a) severe learning difficulties, (b) moderate learning difficulties and (c) emotional behavioural difficulties into mainstream schools. [43798]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisWe are preparing an action programme to take forward our policies on special educational needs (SEN), taking careful account of the responses to the Green Paper—Excellence for all children; meeting special educational needs. Progress on inclusion will be at the heart of those policies. We want to see an increased proportion of children with SEN included in mainstream schools where parents are happy with this, and where schools are properly prepared. But we will also promote a strong special school sector, to provide support for mainstream schools, and to offer high quality specialist provision for those children who need it.