Speeches by Asato.

“Kate, the Child Poverty Action Group has called for the eligibility criteria for free school meals to be widened, as you have just argued. Beyond auto-enrolment, how would you like eligibility for free school meals to be extended? Would it be to those on universal credit, or would it be universal? Is there any evidence…”

“Rebecca, can you explain the impact that giving local authorities more control over admissions could have on the socioeconomic disparities between schools?”

“My next question is about some Ofsted reforms so it might be worth merging the two, and obviously they are looking at new inclusion criteria. Quite a number of people, and evidence that we have seen, suggest that a narrowing of the curriculum, at the same time as very strict behaviour policies, has led to a natural exc…”

“Amanda, could you talk us through some effective and actionable ways to simplify the SEND system, ensuring that it is more straightforward for parents, carers and young people to navigate?”

“Amanda, could you talk us through some effective and actionable ways to simplify the SEND system, ensuring that it is more straightforward for parents, carers and young people to navigate?”

“Katie, we know that Kids has developed a SEND community navigator model to support parents and carers of children with SEND to navigate SEN support systems. Could you expand on how this model works and its potential to be replicated or scaled up? Could you also tell us how health services interrelate with this model, p…”

“My next question is about some Ofsted reforms so it might be worth merging the two, and obviously they are looking at new inclusion criteria. Quite a number of people, and evidence that we have seen, suggest that a narrowing of the curriculum, at the same time as very strict behaviour policies, has led to a natural exc…”

“Not that long.”

“How can the current allocations and distribution of schools block funding and high needs funding be improved to ensure it effectively meets the diverse and evolving needs of children and young people with SEND? What measures could be implemented to promote greater transparency, flexibility and equity in funding?”

“Many parents and carers that I talk to worry that the people around their children at school do not necessarily have the knowledge or skills or training to be able to effectively support them. How can the existing training system be enhanced to better equip teachers to support students with SEND and improve their educa…”

“A number of you mentioned SENCOs. How do you think that there could be enhanced support for SENCOs to help them fulfil their roles?”

“We have covered some of this already, but what improvements and safeguards can be implemented to ensure that accountability pressures on schools and local authorities do not lead to exclusionary practices, but instead promote inclusive approaches that support the needs of children with SEND?”

“Katie, we know that Kids has developed a SEND community navigator model to support parents and carers of children with SEND to navigate SEN support systems. Could you expand on how this model works and its potential to be replicated or scaled up? Could you also tell us how health services interrelate with this model, p…”

“We have covered some of this already, but what improvements and safeguards can be implemented to ensure that accountability pressures on schools and local authorities do not lead to exclusionary practices, but instead promote inclusive approaches that support the needs of children with SEND?”

“A number of you mentioned SENCOs. How do you think that there could be enhanced support for SENCOs to help them fulfil their roles?”

“Many parents and carers that I talk to worry that the people around their children at school do not necessarily have the knowledge or skills or training to be able to effectively support them. How can the existing training system be enhanced to better equip teachers to support students with SEND and improve their educa…”

“How can the current allocations and distribution of schools block funding and high needs funding be improved to ensure it effectively meets the diverse and evolving needs of children and young people with SEND? What measures could be implemented to promote greater transparency, flexibility and equity in funding?”

“Not that long.”

“One of my constituents, a domestic abuse survivor, has had all contact with her children removed, as well as her domestic abuse claim rejected without evidence. She has now had to pay not just for contact visits but monthly drug tests, when her drug use was not proven at all, making it completely unaffordable for her t…”

“This is for Rob Williams. The NAHT highlighted in its written evidence the unique role that schools play in safeguarding children. What are some of the key issues in the relationship between schools and children’s social care?”