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Dyslexia

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at what age children can be tested for dyslexia; and what types of test are available. [43917]

Maria Eagle: There is no set age at which children can or should be tested for dyslexia. Being a spectrum disorder, dyslexia can present a range of characteristics that can vary considerably from person to person. It is therefore uncertain that universal screening to test for dyslexia, particularly in the early years, would prove sufficiently discriminating to pick out those children most at risk of persisting difficulties.

Schools and local authorities must have regard to the SEN code of practice, which gives practical advice on carrying out statutory duties to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with SEN, including with dyslexia. The precise arrangements for any screening or assessment are, however, for local determination.

Through our primary national strategy, we have issued guidance for teachers, which has a specific focus on dyslexia. Professional development materials, Learning and teaching for children with dyslexia", include a checklist of early indicators for potential dyslexia. Playing with sounds", deals with the early teaching of phonics and includes guidance on early identification and support for children who demonstrate the phonological difficulties often associated with dyslexia.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children who were removed or excluded from their school because of behavioural problems were (a) dyslexic and (b) subsequently diagnosed as dyslexic in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [43918]

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally. However the number of pupils permanently excluded with all types of special educational needs is shown in the table.
Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools ^{(77)(5508670078)}—number of permanent exclusions by special educational needs (SEN)—England, 2003/04 (Estimates) ⁽⁷⁹⁾

	Permanent exclusions			Fixed period exclusions
	Number of exclusions	Percentage of exclusions(80)	Percentage of school population(81)	Number of exclusions	Percentage of exclusions(80)	Percentage of school population(81)
Pupils with statements of SEN	1,040	11	0.44	39,790	12	17.1
Pupils with SEN without statements	5,240	53	0.46	133,290	39	11.7
Pupils with no SEN	3,600	36	0.06	171,420	50	2.7
All pupils (82)	9,880	100	0.13	344,510	100	4.5

⁽⁷⁷⁾ Includes middle schools as deemed.
⁽⁷⁸⁾ For permanent exclusions includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. For fixed period exclusions excludes non-maintained special schools.
⁽⁷⁹⁾ Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil level data.
⁽⁸⁰⁾ The number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of exclusions.
⁽⁸¹⁾ The number of exclusions by stage of SEN expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils with same stage of SEN. Excludes dually registered pupils.
⁽⁸²⁾ There was one permanent exclusion and 12 fixed period exclusions for which stage of SEN was not known—these were included in total for 'all pupils' only.
Source:
Annual Schools Census and Termly Exclusions Survey





 
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Education Expenditure

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the average total cost of Government education spending between the ages of 0 and 21 for a child from (a) the highest and (b) the lowest (i) income decile and (ii) socio-economic class; and if she will make a statement. [41446]

Jacqui Smith: Estimates are not available on the average total cost of Government education spending between the ages of 0 and 21 by each parental income decile and each socio-economic class.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the distribution of total education spending between pupils from (a) each income decile of parents, (b) each income quintile of parents and (c) each socio-economic group of parents; and if she will make a statement. [41447]

Jacqui Smith: Estimates of the distribution of total education spending on pupils by parental income decile, income quintile and socio-economic group are not available. Public education spending is not collated by parental background. Figures on private spending on education are not collated by the Department.

There are likely to be some differences in both public and private spending on education for pupils from different family backgrounds. Such differences will be influenced by, for example, Government education policies targeted at those from poorer backgrounds (such as the education maintenance allowance and targeted student support for higher education), how parental income affects private spending; and differences in post-16 education choices.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of per capita public spending on education for each age cohort in England from age three to age 21 years; and if she will make a statement. [41456]

Jacqui Smith: Data on education spending are not collated by age or cohort. The latest and nearest available estimates relate to annual unit funding in each education sector—schools, FE and HE—published in the DfES' Departmental Report for 2005 (Cm 6522). The following table provides estimates of planned unit funding in 2005–06 per school pupil and full-time equivalent (FTE) students in further and higher education: figures in cash terms rounded to nearest £10.
Planned funding per school pupil and FTE student in FE and HE, 2005–06

£
	2005–06
Funding per school pupil (ages three to 19)	4,250(83)
Assumed(84) funding per FTE student in FE for participation (excluding capital costs)	4,840(85)
Funding per planned FTE student in HE	4,610(86)

⁽⁸³⁾ Figure does not include capital and PFI funding. Estimate consistent with Education Standard Spending/Education Funding Formula Spending plus all schools-related revenue grants. Pension transfers are included. Based on FTEs aged three to 19 in maintained schools in England, including three-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational establishments.
⁽⁸⁴⁾ This is an assumed estimate as it is based on assumptions about how much of the total amount of money going to the Learning and Skills Council is spent on further education.
⁽⁸⁵⁾ Figure relates to all FE spending, including for adult participants. Full-time equivalent (FTE) students funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in either further education sector colleges or in external institutions, specialist designated institutions, dance and drama institutions and higher education institutions.
⁽⁸⁶⁾ Funding relates to all DfES revenue grants to support HE in HE institutions and FE colleges in England and excludes expenditure on tuition fees and student maintenance costs. Figure based on planned.



 
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Education Funding (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effect of the level of direct support grant allocated to Shropshire's schools on their ability to remain within their budget for 2004–05. [44177]

Jacqui Smith: The new Dedicated Schools Grant will not be introduced until April 2006 but under the current revenue funding system for schools, Shropshire received £3,780 per pupil in 2004–05. This figure includes funding via Education Formula Spending Share and revenue grants allocated at an LEA level.

At the end of the financial year 2004–05, the data indicate that the deficit balances held by maintained schools in Shropshire amounted in total to approximately £677,675 and that total surplus balances totalled approximately £5,554,614; these figures are derived from the outturn statements prepared by local education authorities under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

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