Moved by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
97: After Clause 45, insert the following new Clause—
“Funding for specialist education services for children and young people with sensory impairment
(1) An English local authority must secure that provision of specialist education services to children and young people with sensory impairment and their parents is sufficient to facilitate the development of the child or young person with sensory impairment and to help him or her achieve the best possible educational and other outcomes.
(2) Specialist education services include support to the parent of a child with sensory impairment, following the point of identification of any sensory impairment.
(3) The Secretary of State must ensure that funding to local authorities for provision of services under this section is sufficient.
(4) In discharging their duty under subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.”
Member's explanatory statement
Part 2 of the Schools Bill makes a number of changes to school and local education funding. This amendment seeks to introduce a new duty for local authorities and the Secretary of State to ensure there is sufficient funding for specialist education services for children and young people with sensory impairments.