Lord Blunkett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blunkett on 2016-07-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of funding for those units set up to provide assistance to children with visual impairments (1) in multi-academy trusts, (2) in individual schools, or (3) supported directly by local education authorities, on the education provided to those children.

Lord Nash

We commissioned the ISOS Partnership to research the use and impact of funding for special educational needs and disability, although they did not consider in detail the impact of funding on the education of children with visual impairments who receive assistance in special units. Their research report was published in July 2015.

As set out in their school inspection handbook, Ofsted inspectors will consider and report on any differences between the progress and attainment of pupils in resource-based provision (such as specialist units for pupils with visual impairments) and those with similar starting points who are disabled or have special educational needs in the main school. Inspectors also consider the progress of disabled pupils and those with special educational needs in relation to the progress of all pupils nationally with similar starting points, and examine the impact of funded support for them on closing any gaps in progress and attainment.