Special Schools

HC Deb 19 November 2001 vol 375 c105W

Miss Kirkbride

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if residential special schools have to be registered with his Department. [10707]

Jacqui Smith

Currently residential special schools are required to register with the Department for Education and Skills, and the responsibility for welfare inspections lies with the local authority.

In April 2002 residential special schools will be required to register with the National Care Standards Commission when it takes on responsibility for the welfare inspections of boarding schools. Residential special schools will still be required to register with the DfES, which is responsible for educational inspections.