Speeches by McKinnell.

“The basis of all the work that we are doing to reform the system is founded on improving outcomes for children, but it must be done within the settlement that we have from the Treasury and it must be delivered by local authorities within the means that they have. That is clear. We must work cross-departmentally on any …”

“You raise a really important point and challenge. We recognise that local authorities will need support during this transition to a reformed SEND system. We will be beginning a phased transition process and that does include working with local authorities closely to manage their SEND system, including deficits. That is…”

“First, I want to say we recognise the important role that independent special schools can play. We want to see that collaboration between mainstream schools and special schools, independent special schools and maintained special schools. We want to see a healthy ecosystem of school provision for children particularly i…”

“Yes, a great question and really important and one that we are clearly very focused on. As you rightly identify in the premise of your question, the more that we can target resource at the earliest years, early identification and earlier support being put in place, the more we can then see a change throughout the syste…”

“Yes, we are looking at the national funding formula.”

“That would depend on how you look at what would be fair if we were then to change the system, and how soon those changes can work their way through the system. The issue for schools is you cannot just make a big change in their funding allocation from one year to the next. It needs to be done gradually, and I think som…”

“I recognise what you set out and the challenge. To be clear, and I know I have probably responded to this both at in-person meetings and in the Chamber, we did keep the national funding formula as it is 2025-26 because changing the national funding formula needs to be done very carefully and needs a significant amount …”

“I recognise the premise of the question, but I see it as an opportunity that we have to improve outcomes and drive outcomes for children. Bringing that within the schools group, within the Department and within all the work that we are doing as a Department recognises that it is a whole school system challenge that we …”

“In terms of the level of funding, sorry, I did not catch the beginning.”

“This is all part of the broader picture of the system that we want to create and we will set it out in the White Paper. I appreciate the challenge in that under the current system many schools are facing significant challenges in meeting the needs of children and clearly local authorities are, too. That is why we recog…”

“I will certainly look at that.”

“I am not entirely sure what the relationship is to the current discussion.”

“I am more than happy to take that away.”

“What I was going to say was that a core part of its inspection framework will be inclusivity and the provision of inclusive mainstream education within the school system. Therefore, schools will want to make sure that they have the best training and the best support available for their workforce to deliver on that, to …”

“No, but it is part of the jigsaw that we are putting together on creating an inclusive mainstream school life that both the children and young people and the teachers feel they belong to, want to belong to and can get good outcomes from.”

“We recognise that support staff play such a crucial role in schools, and teaching assistants in particular often work very closely with children with special educational needs and disabilities. It is very important that the balance is right in that respect, that we get the balance right between the time children may sp…”

“It is now part of the initial teacher training and early career framework that I have mentioned. All new teachers coming into the system will have SEND training as part of their journey, part of their rite of passage through to teaching. It is mandatory for SENCOs. We are also very keen that school leaders take up the …”

“That is a good point, and when we produce the White Paper there will be a period of consultation that will follow that. At the moment, we are engaging extensively to produce that but clearly, as you rightly identify, consultation is key to not only getting it right, which is our No. 1 priority, but also to rebuilding t…”

“Clearly, engagement is important for us, not only because we want to hear about current experiences, but because we want to make sure that any changes that we make build that confidence of parents, of families, of stakeholders. That is a real priority for us. I must be clear that since I took on this role I have spent …”

“Yes. We are not interested in—I have said it very clearly; I do not know how much more clearly I can say it—removing any support that is currently available for children that they are getting and that is helping them with their education. What we are looking to do is to expand the system so that that best practice can …”