Speeches by Asato.

“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.”

“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…”

“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…”

“The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would require education settings to be automatically included in safeguarding arrangements. Should the Bill go further and make education a fourth safeguarding statutory partner, as recommended by the independent review of children’s social care?”

“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?”

“Thank you very much. Moving on to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Committee has heard concerns about the proposal to introduce a mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse because it may result in practitioners becoming overly risk averse and making assumptions about abuse without doing the ne…”

“Yes, of course, Claire. Sorry.”

“I am going to move on to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.”

“Very quickly, off the back of that, there have been some calls to introduce equal protection for children so that they have the same protections as adults. To what extent quickly do you think that could help to safeguard them from harm?”

“I would like to declare an interest in that I worked for Barnardo’s prior to being elected to Parliament.”

“Just very quickly to return to the children’s wellbeing Bill, the Bill requires schools and local authorities to co-operate to manage school admissions and supply of local places. How is this going to work in practice and how frequently do you expect to use your powers to intervene on admissions?”

“Thank you, Secretary of State. The Bill strengthens Ofsted’s powers to investigate unregistered and, therefore, illegal schools. Last week Ofsted officials largely welcomed the changes but said that they looked forward to conversations about unregistered alternative provision, which “does not get as great a mention in …”

“You mentioned the important need to tackle profiteering. One of the measures that the Bill introduces is an expansion of regional care co-operatives. Could you explain the evidence that sits behind the decision to expand the regional care co-operatives when similar regionalisation arrangements for adoption agencies hav…”

“Given the horrific murder of Sara Sharif and recent calls by the Children’s Commissioner and children’s organisations to equalise protection for children, as is the case in Scotland and Wales, do you think it is now time to introduce this protective measure, particularly as we have the children’s wellbeing Bill in fron…”

“We know that one in five children has a diagnosable mental health disorder and that services are struggling to support these children. Labour’s manifesto promised a mental health professional in every school. What steps have been taken to make this a reality? Is the Department still on track to have 50% of schools with…”