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Education and Skills Bill

We had this debate on the Education and Inspections Bill, and I will say now what I said then. As Minister for special educational needs, I am a strong supporter of special schools and the right of parents to choose them for their children, where they can best serve their needs. We believe that the precise pattern of school provision should be decided locally, but within a framework set nationally. That is the position in the law at the moment. In particular, we have introduced a new special educational needs improvement test—a new requirement on local authorities and other proposers to demonstrate, when proposing reorganisation of SEN provision locally, that alternative arrangements will lead to improvements in the equality and range of SEN provision. Guidance on closing a maintained school accordingly states that when considering any reorganisation of SEN, including that which might lead to some children being displaced through closures or alterations, local authorities and all other proposers for new schools or new provisions will need to demonstrate to parents, local communities and decision-makers how the proposed alternative arrangements are likely to lead to improvements in the standards, quality and/or range of educational provision for children with special needs. The guidance on the SEN improvement test also outlines the key factors that local authorities must take into account when planning changes to their existing SEN provision. They must identify the details of the specific educational benefits that will flow from the proposal in terms of improved access to educational and associated services, improved access to specialist staff and improved supply of staff. Local authorities should offer the opportunity for all providers of existing provision to set out their views on the changing pattern of provision. They should state clearly arrangements for alternative provision. The guidance makes it very clear that local authorities cannot arbitrarily close special schools. They must demonstrate that suitable—and, indeed, as an improvement test, better—provision is available as part of their plans. The guidance on the SEN improvement test makes it clear that: "““A ‘hope’ or ‘intention’ to find places elsewhere is not acceptable””." Within the wider provision of special educational needs, special schools therefore have an incredibly important part to play in meeting the particular needs of some children. I want to make it clear once again that we support special schools strongly, including where it really matters: investment. We are investing £608 million in 76 local authorities not yet involved in Building Schools for the Future which, among other things, can be used to improve facilities for young people with special educational needs. In conclusion, I note that the number of pupils in special schools has increased over the past two years, so they are clearly thriving under the present regime