§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to provide financial support for primary schools with children in need of behaviour support. [128290]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 3 July 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in April that nearly £8 million will be spent this financial year on extending the Learning Support Unit initiative to cover the primary sector. The intention is that, by the end of the year, 60 pilot units will be running in first phase Excellence In Cities areas. The units will be school-based centres for pupils at risk of exclusion due to behavioural problems, providing them with separate teaching and support programmes tailored to their particular needs.
Additionally, £140 million is available from the Social Inclusion: Pupil Support Standards Fund Grant to help schools and local education authorities tackle poor behaviour and truancy; and a further £6 million has been allocated from the SEN Standards Fund to support projects in 46 local education authorities focusing on early identification and action for primary-age children with behavioural difficulties.