§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his Written Ministerial Statement of 15 May 2003,Official Report, column 13WS, on school budgets, what plans he has to issue guidance to local education authorities in connection with those obligations (a) to meet requirements under health and safety legislation and (b) to meet Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2000 requirements in respect of (i) the minimum education of children and (ii) to meet SENDA requirements in respect of physical access to premises. [115180]
§ Mr. MilibandWe have no plans to issue further guidance in these areas.
My Department has worked closely with LEAs to ensure that they are aware of their health and safety responsibilities, including giving talks to LEA staff, sending the publication "Health & Safety: Responsibilities and Powers" to all LEAs and schools in England in December 2001 and more recently creating a health and safety section on the Teachernet website http://www.teachernet. gov.uk/healthandsafety.
There is a requirement for schools to meet for a minimum of 380 half day sessions per year and recommended guidelines on the amount of teaching time have been published as follows:
17.30–20 hours for pupils at Key Stage 1 (Recommended by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)19.10–22.30 hours for pupils at Key Stage 2 (Recommended by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)21.30 hours for pupils at Key Stage 3 (Recommended by the Key State 3 National Strategy)24 hours for pupils at Key Stage 4 (DfES Circular 7/90)The guidance for Key Stages 1 and 2 can be found on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's website: http://www.qca.org.uk/ca/5–14/learnmg_prim curr.aspThe Key Stage 3 guidelines can be found at: http://www. standards. dfes. gov. uk/keystage3/publicationsIn July 2002 my Department issued guidance for local education authorities and schools on carrying out their disability planning duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended by the SEN and Disability Act 2001). These duties require them to plan strategically to increase access to schools for disabled pupils over time. The duty covers physical access to premises, access to information in alternative formats, and access to the curriculum. The guidance—"Accessible Schools—Planning to increase access to schools for disabled pupils" can be found at http:// www.dfes.gov.uk/sen