§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in each local authority receive additional support through the code of practice on special educational needs; and what assessment his Department has made of differences in the pattern of support identified among local authorities. [139603]
§ Margaret HodgeThe information requested has been placed in the Libraries.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have taken place in the number of children in(a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education with statements of special educational need since 1997, broken down by local authority. [139604]
§ Margaret HodgeThe number of pupils with statements of SEN has increased in all sectors since 1997. However, since 2000 the rate of increase has levelled out and the proportion of pupils with statements in England has remained at 3 per cent. for the last two years. A table containing the number of pupils for each authority will be placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to develop common definitions of need for children with special educational needs. [139605]
1485W
§ Margaret HodgeFrom January 2004 we shall be collecting information about the type of special need for children with statements of SEN and those at the School Action Plus phase in the SEN Code of Practice. In preparation for this exercise we have provided all schools with guidance, which includes definitions of 11 special educational needs. A copy of the publication, Data Collection by Type of Special Educational Need, is available at: www.dfes.gov.uk/sen
§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total amount spent by Somerset county council on special needs teaching was in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [139044]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Department does not collect expenditure data within mainstream schools for teaching on special needs. The following table therefore only contains data for teaching expenditure within special schools in Somerset local education authority.
Total expenditure on teaching staff within special schools for Somerset LEA Special schools (£) 2001–02 3,528,393 2002–03 3,595,259 Notes:
1. The 2001–02 figures are taken from Table 3 of the LEA's 2001–02 section 52 Outturn Statement.
2. The 2002–03 figures are taken from Table A of the LEA's 2002–03 section 52 Outturn Statement. The figures are still subject to validation by the Department and could change.
3. The figures reported are in cash terms.
4. The figures are as reported by the LEA.