Department for Education
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Ed Balls and Diana Johnson launch action plan on special educational needs

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls and Schools Minister Diana Johnson have today published plans to implement all the recommendations in Brian Lamb’s landmark review on special educational needs.
 
This action plan will help create a higher skilled workforce able to respond to children’s needs; more accessible information and advice for parents; and stronger accountability and redress when children do not get the support they need.

In addition to the recommendations already accepted by Government in December, ministers are also announcing today:

  • Advanced teacher training: up to £4 million for the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to develop advanced training on SEN by Spring 2011. The TDA will also run projects engaging parents in the training and professional development of teachers.
  • Legal training for all school governors: A new training package on SEN law will be launched so governors are clear on their school’s responsibilities to support children with SEN.
  • Improving information for parents: A public consultation on amending how information on SEN is given to parents. The consultation will involve parents, schools, local authorities and other organisations and will find best practice in communicating with parents.
  • Educational psychology services: a review of services provided at arms length from local authorities and their impact on parental confidence and children’s outcomes.

Brian Lamb, the Chair of the Special Educational Consortium, published his review into parental confidence in the SEN system in December 2009.

The Government has already invested over £70 million to specifically improve support and outcomes for children with SEN. Today’s commitments are the next stage of Government action on SEN, focusing on the professionals who work with children with SEN and their parents.

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls said:

This action plan sets out how we will improve the educational outcomes of children with special educational needs and parental confidence in the system. We want every parent and child, in every local authority, to receive the best support possible.

Children with SEN are doing better in school than ever before but more can be done to ensure these young people achieve their potential. That’s why we are also announcing today new training and resources for teachers and school governors to give them the skills and experience they need to offer children specialist SEN support.

By taking forward all of Brian Lamb’s recommendations we are making sure children with SEN remain a top priority and get the investment, support and specialist teaching they need.

Schools Minister Diana Johnson said:

It is crucial that children with special education needs get the support they need to succeed and be happy in school. Our action plan sets out how we will achieve greater parental confidence in the SEN system and better educational outcomes for these children.

We need to ensure that schools, teachers and governors understand the specialist teaching these children need and are clear on how to provide it. The new advanced training we are announcing today will start to deliver on our aim of all schools being equipped and ready to support their pupils with SEN and make sure the have the best possible start in life.

Brian Lamb said:

I am delighted to see that the Government has responded so positively to all my recommendations which are being completely implemented. The additional investment in teacher training and support for the new parent helpline are very welcome, as is new legislation to support enhanced rights to better support within schools and for parents to appeal are also great news for families and children with disability and SEN. It is crucial that all those involved in supporting children with SEN grasp the opportunities this implementation plan gives to secure better outcomes for children with SEN.

 
This action plan will also take forward the changes to the system announced in December in response to Brian Lamb’s review, including: 

• A national SEN helpline to provide independent, expert advice and information directly to parents will be launched in April;

• New pilots which will look at how children’s needs are assessed and the transparency of local authority decision-making to give parents more confidence that decisions are made in the best interests of their child will also start in April;

• Strengthened independent appeals panels on exclusions and improved statutory guidance for schools on excluding children with SEN;
 
• Funding for the Local Government Ombudsman to take complaints from parents unhappy with the support they receive, giving parents greater redress, which has now been put in place;

Through the Children, Schools and Families Bill, currently before Parliament, the Government is also taking forward Brian Lamb’s recommendations by placing an explicit duty on Ofsted to report on how well schools are meeting the needs of children with SEN and disabilities and giving a right of appeal to parents unhappy with the review of their child’s statement.

Brian Lamb will report back on progress implementing the action plan in the Summer.

Further information:
 

  1. The action plan and Brian Lamb’s final report can be found online.
  2. The press notice responding to Brian Lamb’s review can be viewed online.

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