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Written question asked by Lord Addington (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 May 2023. It was answered by Baroness Barran (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 May 2023 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Pupils: Assistive Technology

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that all schools have access to assistive technology for any pupil who would benefit from it as a result of a disability or special educational need.

Answer

All schools have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, including the provision of auxiliary aids and services for disabled children, to prevent them from being put at a substantial disadvantage. If a pupil has an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, the school must work with the local authority to ensure that all the relevant duties under the 2014 Children and Families Act are met, including securing Special Educational Provision (SEP), which may include the provision of assistive technology.

Children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) have more access to assistive technology, following investment in remote education and accessibility features which can reduce or remove barriers to learning. The department has expanded training to increase school staff awareness of assistive technology and, in particular, to increase awareness of assistive technology that is already available or can easily be obtained, such as text-to-speech tools. Impact data from this programme will provide a fuller picture of how training can support the wider continuous professional development for learners with SEN.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL7187
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Pupils Special educational needs Assistive technology
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk