Schools Minister faces MPs in final session of SEND inquiry
Minister for School Standards Catherine McKinnell will be questioned by the Education Committee in the last of seven evidence sessions in its inquiry, Solving the SEND crisis.
Meeting details
The cross-party Committee will draw on evidence it has heard throughout the inquiry, including about the rising number of children, year on year, needing support related to special educational needs, disabilities and mental health conditions.
MPs are likely to ask the Minister how the Government could reform the delivery of SEND services in mainstream schools to make them more inclusive, as well as more consistent in settings across the country.
There may be questions about the accountability of how SEN support is provided in schools, and whether it should be provided on a statutory basis, as is the case with Education Health and Care Plans.
McKinnell could also be questioned on the potential to bolster training for teachers so that they are better equipped to support children with SEND.
The formula used to distribute funding to different schools around the country will be examined, as will the rules that are intended to ensure funding for SEND is used by schools appropriately.
The Committee is also likely to question how Ofsted’s forthcoming inspection framework can ensure that schools and councils are delivering good SEND provision, and the way that allied health professionals are deployed in the education system.