MPs warn on special needs schools

Education for pupils with special needs in England is "not fit for purpose", MPs have warned.

The Commons education select committee is calling for stronger government guidelines for councils, to end a "post-code lottery" of provision.

It also wants ministers to clarify their policy on whether to include special needs children in mainstream schools or educate them separately.

The government said it had "done much" to improve the situation.

'Confusion'

According to the committee, those with special educational needs (SEN) are being "sidelined".

It also claims the government's "inclusion" policy - teaching pupils in mainstream schools wherever possible - is causing confusion about whether this means closing special schools.

About 1.53 million children in England are judged to have SEN.

The number of special schools in the state and private sectors fell by 7% from 1,239 in 1997 to 1,148 last year.

Without evidence it appears a policy of inclusion has developed on the basis that it benefits all children

Nadine Dorries MP

Conservative leader David Cameron, whose own son Ivan is disabled, has vowed to continue "waging war" on closures.

In its report, the committee says special schools, dealing with issues such as autism, behavioural and learning difficulties, are "invaluable" for many pupils.

It recommends more mainstream and special schools joining in federations to share ideas.

Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "Many of the problems identified in our report stem from the fact that SEN provision has not been given sufficient priority by successive governments."

He added: "Meeting the needs of children with SEN must be given the highest priority. This should be the hallmark of a successful education system and a civilised society."

'Uncomfortable'

The committee argues that mainstream schools need to do well in league tables means some are unwilling to accept special needs children, for fear of damaging average test results.

It says: "Regardless of the theory, in practice the evidence clearly demonstrates that SEN and the raising achievement agenda sit very uncomfortably together at present."

The committee also calls for more educational psychologists to be employed and for greater teacher training to deal with SEN.

Local authorities have an "inbuilt conflict of interest", in both having to assess whether a child needs special education - which is expensive - and then to provide it, it claims.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries, a member of the committee, has written her own report on SEN, saying her colleagues have failed to "identify in sufficient depth" the difficulties faced.

Children were the "innocent victims of an ideologically-driven and dogmatic view with regard to inclusion", she said.

Many local authorities had pushed this policy without looking at individual pupils' needs and denying parental choice.

Ms Dorries said: "Without evidence it appears a policy of inclusion has developed on the basis that it benefits all children."

Education Secretary Alan Johnson said: "We do not have a policy of closing special schools and we have always been clear that inclusion is about the quality of children's education, and how they are helped to learn, achieve and participate in the life of their school, whether that is a mainstream or a special school.

"We do not believe that a 'completely fresh look at SEN' at this time is the right way of achieving the best outcomes for children."

Shadow Education Secretary David Willetts said: "This is a wake-up call to the government which needs to be heeded."

Liberal Democrat Education spokesman Stephen Williams said: "The government needs to clear up the confusion it has created over what it means by 'inclusion'.

"Parents need clarity about what their child is entitled to."