§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what help is given to local education authorities in Somerset for teachers of dyslexia; and what the average size of grants for statemented children was in the last three years. [107320]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisFunding is not made available to support specific categories of special educational needs, nor is it made available directly for statemented children. Rather, funding is allocated and distributed via LEAs, who have a duty to provide appropriately for all children in their area, including children with statements.
Opportunities for professional development for teachers are supported through the special educational needs standard fund grant, from which Somerset LEA has received £1.9 million in the years 2001–04. One of this grant's objectives is to support special educational needs and disability training and professional development for teachers, learning support assistants and other staff. This is in addition to the £614.5 million Somerset has received in Education Formula Spending Share (previously known as Education Standard Spending Assessment) in 2001–04. It is for individual LEAs and schools to decide how they spend this funding, taking account of their statutory duties towards children with special educational needs.