Every parliamentary written question tabled by Chris Coghlan this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 28 · Department for Education
If she will provide the latest figures of the number of children in East Surrey who have a) a SEND requirement and b) an EHCP, broken down per borough including Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge.
Awaiting answer.
What plans she has to review place funding for special schools.
The department has published a schools white paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, alongside a consultation on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform, called Putting Children and Young People First. We have also published a summary ...
When her Department plans to publish and respond to the School Teachers’ Review Body report.
We recognise the importance of timely information for schools and will respond as soon as possible.
What guidance her Department has issued to schools on criminals targeting schools and using AI tools to create child sexual abuse material of pupils.
I refer the hon. Member for Eastleigh to the answer of 2 June 2026 to Question 3915.
When her Department plans to publish inclusion base guidance for schools.
As a core component of our £3.7 billion high needs capital settlement, we will invest in a transformational expansion of inclusion bases. We are aware of many examples of inclusion bases in mainstream settings that offer high quality teaching, bespoke lea...
What assessment she has made of the level of potential harm to looked-after children if weaknesses in ePEP systems lead to data breaches or inadequate safeguarding of their personal information.
Statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) sets out what Personal Education Plans (PEPs) must cover and the outcomes they should support. The department does not mandate, endorse or have oversight of any specific electronic PEP (ePEP) platforms. D...
What steps she is taking to ensure that all electronic Personal Education Plan systems used by local authority Virtual Schools meet robust national minimum security and data protection standards, particularly f
Statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) sets out what Personal Education Plans (PEPs) must cover and the outcomes they should support. The department does not mandate, endorse or have oversight of any specific electronic PEP (ePEP) platforms. D...
What guidance her Department plans to issue requiring Virtual School Heads to conduct appropriate due diligence and Data Protection Impact Assessments on third-party ePEP providers.
Statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) sets out what Personal Education Plans (PEPs) must cover and the outcomes they should support. The department does not mandate, endorse or have oversight of any specific electronic PEP (ePEP) platforms. D...
If she will work with the ICO and CCS to review safeguarding risks posed by current ePEP platforms and consider mandatory independent cybersecurity audits and NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit compliance
Statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) sets out what Personal Education Plans (PEPs) must cover and the outcomes they should support. The department does not mandate, endorse or have oversight of any specific electronic PEP (ePEP) platforms. D...
With reference to (a) her confirmation of 24 March 2026 that her Department accepts Surrey County Council’s decision to continue with FS0756 Betchwood Vale Academy, (b) the Answer of 3 February 2025 to Question 27008 on Free Schools, Dorking, and (c) the Minister for Early Education’s letter (ref. 20245-0039819) of 24 December 2024, what the status is of each of the reports and surveys completed in support of the initial planning application submitted by the Department which in February 2025 were in the process of being reviewed and refreshed by the Department’s appointed construction contractor; and what plans and timetable the Department has to engage with Mole Valley District Council planning officers to progress a new or revised planning application.
The department confirmed Surrey County Council’s decision to continue with Betchwood Vale Academy on 24 March. Officials are working on a new delivery programme and will be in contact with Surrey County Council and the Trust to discuss next steps. A review of all planning documentation will be required before a new or revised planning application can be submitted.
If she will review section 1.37 of the School Admissions Code 2021 to assess the potential benefits of requiring all schools designated with a religious character to prioritise all looked-after and previously looked-after children in their admissions arrangements, regardless of faith.
The department values the contribution schools with a religious character make to a diverse school system, and it is important faith schools can set admissions criteria that work for their local circumstances.As a minimum, faith schools must give priority to looked after children and previously looked after children of the faith before giving priority to other children of faith. Faith schools may also choose but are not required to give top priority to looked-after and previously looked after children regardless of faith.
When she plans to respond to the email of 18 December 2025 from the hon. Member for Dorking and Horley on Surrey County Council's management of their statutory SEND responsibilities.
The department attaches great importance to the handling of correspondence from parliamentarians and is working to provide a response to the email from the hon. Member for Dorking and Horley.
With reference to Measure What Matters' report entitled National Testimony Collection, published on 16 October 2025, what steps her Department is taking to address failures by local authorities to comply with guidance on the provision of SEND support to children, including those with an education, health and care plan.
The Schools White Paper sets out unequivocal expectations for every local authority on the quality and timeliness of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, including planning school places effectively and providing the expert support that schools and families need, with significant investment in local authorities to transform SEND support.In March 2026 we commissioned local authorities, together with their integrated care boards, to develop SEND reform plans by June 2026.The department will use these plans to hold them accountable to deliver strong outcomes for children and young people with SEND and will act decisively where progress does not materialise. Where failure is persistent, we will not hesitate to use the full range of intervention powers including removing the licence to deliver SEND services.
What recent steps she has taken to ensure the delivery of Betchwood Vale Academy.
The department is engaging with local authorities and trusts to advance the development of special and alternative provision free schools, aligned with our vision for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.We are working through these decisions to provide all local authorities with timely updates as quickly as possible.We continue to be committed to ensuring that all children with SEND receive the support they need to achieve and thrive.
When her Department plans to publish the Schools White Paper.
This government is determined to deliver reform that stands the test of time and rebuilds the confidence of families, which is why we’re launching a further period of listening and engagement – testing our proposals with parents, teachers and experts in every region of the country, so that lived experience and partnership are at the heart of our solutions. We know that families are crying out for change, and that is exactly why it is critical we get this right. We will set out the full Schools White Paper in the new year, building on the work we’ve already done to create a system that’s rooted in inclusion, where children receive high-quality support early on and can thrive at their local school.
What her response is to the open letter from parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Surrey, delivered to her Department (a) physically on 16 July 2025 and (b) electronically on 17 July 2025.
The department attaches great importance to the handling of correspondence from parliamentarians and fellow citizens. Correspondence often raises complex and serious concerns, as it has in this instance, and as a department we aim to provide high quality, tailored responses to the points raised.I can confirm that a response to the open letter from parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Surrey, dated 17 July 2025, was sent on 18 November 2025.
When she plans to respond to the letter from Fiona Davidson, dated 4 July 2025.
I can confirm that a response to the correspondence dated 4 July 2025 from Fiona Davidson was sent on 21 July 2025.
What steps she is taking to ensure the timely delivery of Betchwood Vale Academy.
The department is engaging with local authorities and trusts and progressing work on special and alternative provision free schools in line with our vision for the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system. Projects are at different stages of development, which means we have been prioritising operational decisions on those that are due to open in the shorter term.Departmental officials are in the process of reviewing all the documentation for Betchwood Vale Academy before submitting a new planning application for the school.
If she will make an assessment of the accuracy of the education, health and care plan issuance process.
An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment ensures that a child or young person’s needs are assessed in a co-ordinated manner across education, health and social care services. Under this assessment process the local authority must seek information and advice from a range of partners, including the child or young person and their parents, their school or college, where applicable, relevant health and social care partners, an educational psychologist and any other relevant professionals. The EHC needs assessment must identify the child or young person’s special educational needs together with any relevant health or social care needs. If an EHC needs assessment determines that it is necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person, the local authority must prepare an EHC plan. Following the assessment, if the local authority decides not to issue an EHC plan, or if the child’s parent or, from the age of 16, the young person themselves disagrees with the description of needs, such as the educational provision set out in the plan or the educational institution named in it, they are able to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). Latest data from the department shows that 5.1% of children and young people who underwent an EHC needs assessment during the 2023 calendar year were not issued a plan. In addition, 1,048 appeals were heard by the First-tier Tribunal in the 2023 calendar year regarding a decision on whether to issue a plan.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to local authorities for SEND transport for the 2025-26 financial year.
Most central government funding for home-to-school travel is provided through the local government finance settlement administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. This government recognises the challenges local authorities are facing as demand for critical services rises.The government has announced £1.3 billion of new grant funding for the 2025/26 financial year to help local government deliver core services. Together with local income from council tax and business rates, this will provide a real terms increase in core spending power of around 3.2%.The government is committed to reforming local government funding, using the best available evidence to direct funding to where it is most needed. We will deliver these reforms in partnership with local government.