§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to help local education authorities achieve the 18 week target on drafting all statements for children with special educational needs. [35548]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Department will be contacting LEAs which failed to produce most of their draft statements within 18 weeks to ask how they propose to improve their performance, and to inquire about any obstacles to better performance. We shall also be contacting those LEAs which have performed well to identify the factors which contributed to their success. We shall then provide guidance to LEAs aimed at increasing significantly the proportion of draft statements produced within 18 weeks, and consider what further action may be helpful.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the figures in the Audit Commission's report on education services, in respect of Coventry local education authorities' performance in the processing of statements on special needs education against the Government's target period. [35549]
168W
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe Audit Commission's report showed that in 1996–97 only 7 per cent. of the draft statements produced by Coventry LEA were made within the statutory 18-week time limit. This is not acceptable. My Department will be contacting LEAs, including Coventry, which did not produce most of their draft statements within the time limit to ask how they propose to improve their performance.