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Special Educational Needs: Staff

Asked by Dr Luke EvansConservativeDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 8 July 2026UIN 5404

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider developing a national workforce plan to support councils and other bodies to determine resources for future SEND provision needs.

Answered by Georgia Gould

The department is working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, including delivery of the Experts at Hand offer and strengthening joint workforce planning and local commissioning between education and health partners.

We are proactively addressing workforce implications as part of wider long-term planning, working with DHSC and NHS England on priorities such as the 10 Year Workforce Plan.

The department is investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and integrated care boards, to develop an Experts at Hand offer, improving access to health and education specialist support in mainstream settings. As part of this, local authorities and integrated care boards will establish a baseline of current workforce capacity and capability, in line with clear national guidance, to inform local workforce planning and decisions, ensuring investment is focused on delivering the greatest impact for children and young people in mainstream settings.

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