Written questions by Lopez.

Whether the national approach to behaviour and attendance will include specific guidance on reasonable adjustments for pupils with speech and language challenges.

Some pupils, including pupils who have speech and language needs, may face additional challenges that can impact their behaviour and attendance.Specialist support, such as from speech and language therapists, can play an important role in breaking down communication barriers so that those pupils can engage fully in education.Our ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance requires schools, trusts and local authorities to take a support first approach to absence and work with families to remove individual barriers to attendance.All schools are legally required to have a behaviour policy that is lawful, proportionate and reasonable, and comply with the school’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Any special educational needs or disability a pupil may have, including speech and language needs, must be considered when applying their behaviour policy.Schools are expected to consider reasonable adjustments on a case-by-case basis, informed by the pupil’s individual needs, to ensure they can access education on an equal basis to their peers.

How much and what proportion of the funding for the SEND teacher training programme announced on 16 January 2026 will be allocated to training on speech, language and communication needs.

The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) teacher training offer comprises an investment of over £200 million over the course of this Parliament. This significant investment forms a central pillar of the government’s SEND reform plans, helping to secure a fairer system where effective support is available for every child with SEND from early years to the age of 25.​This training offer will be freely available to all leaders, teachers and teaching assistants working in schools, colleges and nurseries across England.We are currently in the design stage for the new programme and plan to develop it in collaboration with sector experts and early years professionals.This free accessible training will focus on inclusive pedagogy, child development, and practical strategies for supporting children with SEND including those with speech, language and communication needs.

How many private nurseries there were in (a) July 2024, (b) November 2024 and (c) June 2025.

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.The department estimates the number of private group-based providers in England via its annual survey of providers. In 2024, the number of private group-based providers was estimated at 21,200 as of July 2024. Full information can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-provider-survey/2024.The department does not hold the information requested for the other date in question.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of education, health and care plans.

Under the education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment process, local authorities must seek information and advice from a range of partners, including the child or young person and their parents, their school or college (if any), health and social care partners, an educational psychologist and other relevant professionals.If it is determined necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person, the local authority must prepare an EHC plan which will say clearly what the child or young person’s needs are and what help they will be entitled to.We know that families face issues with EHC plans and that it can sometimes take a long time for support to be delivered.This government believes that in a well-functioning system, that is why we are committed to addressing the systemic issues that make special educational needs and disabilities support so hard to access for many families.We are thinking about how to protect support for the children that will always need specialist placements, and make accessing that support less bureaucratic and adversarial, and how we can intervene earlier so support can be provided regardless of whether a legal plan is in place.

What her planned timeline is for publishing the planned White Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

I refer the hon. Member for Hornchurch and Upminster to the answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53641.