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Special Schools
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultation has been carried out with the parents of pupils in special schools on the policy of inclusion and the future of those schools; and what the results of that consultation were. [10962]
Mr. Timms: The Government have consulted widely on their strategy to raise standards for pupils with special educational needs. Like others, parents, pupils and staff from special schools have contributed to the consultations on the Green Paper, "Excellence For All Children: Meeting Special Educational Needs" (October 1997), "Meeting Special Educational Needs: A Programme of Action" (November 1998) and the provisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (March 2000). The Government's proposals received broad support.
There is a continuing and vital role for special schools within an inclusive education system. Inclusion is not a drive to close special schools. Rather, the Government want all special schools to be outward-looking centres of excellence working hand in hand with each other and with mainstream schools. Special schools can act as a source of expertise, advice and professional development. When mainstream and special schools work together there are benefits for all.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1231W, on specialist schools, what proportion of the applicants who gained sponsorship arranged through the Technology Colleges Trust had such sponsorship make up 50 per cent. or more of the total sponsorship needed to gain specialist status. [11052]
Mr. Timms: Sponsorship arranged through the Technology Colleges Trust accounted for 50 per cent. or more of the sponsorship raised in the case of 51 per cent. of the applicant schools.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to his answer of 17 October, Official Report, column 1231W, on specialist schools, what proportion of the applicants who gained sponsorship arranged through the Technology Colleges Trust were applicants for (a) arts, (b) technology, (c) language college and (d) sports status. [11053]
Mr. Timms: The proportion of applicants supported through sponsorship arranged through the Technology Colleges Trust were as follows: 32 per cent. arts applicants;
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50 per cent. technology applicants; and 18 per cent. language college applicants. Support for schools applying for sports college status is provided through the Youth Sport Trust.
Special Educational Needs
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations have been received on the most recent SEN code document. [11129]
Mr. Timms: A draft special educational needs code of practice was laid before Parliament on 20 June. It was withdrawn in response to comments from members of both Houses, many on behalf of parents or parents' groups, in particular about the draft guidance on quantifying the provision in children's statements of special educational needs.
A revised draft addressing those concerns was placed before Parliament for approval on 23 October. The further revision has been widely welcomed.
Computers Within Reach
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which of the targets for Computers Within Reach were (a) achieved and (b) not achieved, indicating the reasons for not meeting the targets. [11206]
John Healey: The original target for the pilot phase of the Computers within Reach scheme was to supply up to 35,000 refurbished computers by March 2001 for those on certain benefits who were seeking to gain or retain employment. Due to problems associated with the sourcing of equipment and the logistics of delivery, the scheme was extended to 31 October 2001. This was to enable all individuals on waiting lists who had paid for a computer to receive one. Until figures from suppliers are collated I cannot give a final number for computers delivered through the scheme. However, it is anticipated that around 24,000 computers will have been delivered by the end of the pilot phase.
There is an on-going evaluation of the scheme and the initial findings show it has been successful in targeting the priority groups of those in receipt of:
- jobseekers' allowance
- income support
- incapacity benefit
- state pension with minimum income guarantee.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans have been made by (a) her Department and (b) institutions involved in the preparation for Holocaust Memorial Day 2002. [11276]
Mr. Timms: The Home Office is the Government Department with responsibility for Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2002. It is working with a number of Government Departments and organisations on the preparations for the day.
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Last year, this Department produced an education pack for all schools to support last year's Holocaust Memorial Day. New resources for schools to commemorate the day in 2002 have been developed and will be available at the end of November 2001. The resources are complementary to the education pack which the Department produced last year, and reflect this year's theme of Britain and the Holocaust.
The resources have been produced by an education working group of experts on the holocaust, racism, and education, from bodies such as the Wiener Library and the Imperial War Museum. I am grateful for their continued support and dedication to this work.
Capital Grants (Northamptonshire)
Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools in Northampton, South which have received capital grants; and what the value of grants was in each case. [11287]
Mr. Timms: Table A shows the new deal for schools devolved formula capital allocations made to schools in the Northampton, South constituency in 2001–02.
Table B shows those additional capital grants allocated to Northamptonshire local education authority for projects in its schools during 2001–02.
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| £000 | |
|---|---|
| Grant name | Allocation |
| Voluntary Aided Schools | 943 |
| School Laboratories | 360 |
| School Security | 166 |
| School Access | 581 |
| NDS Condition | 1,670 |
| Seed Challenge | 424 |
| Total | 4,144 |
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