Written question asked by Baroness Tonge (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 9 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 April 2001. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2001 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what plans he has to ensure statements under Part 3 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill [Lords] quantify provision.

Answer: Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure statements under Part 3 of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Bill [Lords] quantify provision. [158121] Jacqui Smith: Section 324(3) of the Education Act 1996 requires that statements specify the special educational provision to be made for individual children. We have no plans to change this. The existing Special Educational Needs Code of Practice recognises that, in many cases, specific provision should be quantified, while in other cases flexibility should be retained. The revised Code of Practice, which will shortly be placed before Parliament for approval, will expand on this guidance. It will make it clear that a statement should describe clearly all of the child's special educational needs in full; set out the main objectives that the special educational provision aims to meet; specify clearly and detail the provision required to meet each of the child's needs; describe the arrangements for setting shorter-term objectives for the child and any special arrangements for the annual review of the statement. The revised Code will recognise that there may often be a need for provision to be expressed in terms of hours, equipment or personnel, and it will also state clearly that authorities must not, in any circumstances, have blanket policies not to quantify provision in statements.

Secondary information