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Education and Inspections Bill

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. I also thank all noble Lords who have supported these amendments, including a former chief inspector of schools. I feel strongly about these amendments. Perhaps I can quote from the Select Committee report, in which one of the Minister’s DfES officials said: "““Certainly Lord Adonis is looking for a review of certain aspects of special educational needs and ministers collectively want to look at a ‘third way’””." The committee said that there must be access to a wide range of mainstream and specialist provision and that, "““we do not believe that this is best achieved by a law that specifies outcomes””." The Government’s response was that the best way of improving outcomes for children with SEN and disabilities is through sustained action to build the capacity of the system. We need a thorough review in order to build that system. I have not at any stage suggested that the Government are not taking this seriously and are not committing resources and, therefore, public investment to the SEN system, But the system has serious faults. Parents feel that they are ignored when local special schools are closed. We need a thorough review. I feel that a thorough review of the system is essential to achieve our aim. All I am asking for is a brief period in which to take stock and to consider carefully how we develop a sustainable system to meet the growing need for SEN provision. Surely the whole system of statementing goes to the heart of that. I hope that noble Lords agree. I wish to test the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 32) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 107; Not-Contents, 133. [Amendment No. 33 not moved.]