Further Education: Visual Impairment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing ringfenced funding for statutory vision impairment services in further education.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell
The government’s approach to supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in further education (FE) aims to ensure that all students with SEND receive appropriate support tailored to their needs.
All education and training providers have a duty under Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including those with visual impairments, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students. Section 20 of the Equality Act 2010 can be read in full here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/20.
Local authorities receive high needs funding which they distribute to FE colleges to support students with SEND. However, the allocation and use of this funding is flexible, allowing colleges to address the diverse needs of their student population, rather than being restricted to specific disability types. Providers should keep both funding levels and methodologies under consideration to ensure value for money.
To support children with SEND in special schools, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year. Total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND is over £12 billion in 2025/26.
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