§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the current systems used by local education authorities to educate children with emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems who do not have recognised learning difficulties. [68574]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeEarly identification of children's difficulties which are, or have the potential to become, barriers to learning, and measures to address these, are key elements of the government's education policy. Pilot schemes to develop work in this field are being supported in 1999–2000 through the Special Educational Needs Standards Fund Grant. Guidance in the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice, a revised version of which is expected to come into effect in 2000–01, enables Local Education Authorities to assess whether children's wider difficulties, including emotional, behavioural and psychiatric conditions, are likely to affect their learning to the extent that they need extra support.
708WThe Department will take a keen interest in the results of the current survey being undertaken for the Department of Health, Scottish Office and Welsh Office by the Office for National Statistics Social Survey Division on the development and mental health of around 10,000 children.