Special Educational Needs: Private Education
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of introducing a profit cap on private SEND providers.
Answered by Georgia Gould
Independent special schools can provide essential provision for children and young people with highly complex needs, and the department recognises the expertise and value that many offer. Any provision for children and young people must be delivered at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer and ensure evidence-based, high-quality provision.
Given that demand for specialist placements has grown significantly, we will be introducing new standards for independent special schools to ensure high-quality education for all our children.
To address concerns about high-cost, profit-driven models, we will be bringing forward legislation at the earliest opportunity to implement a price cap ensuring that local authorities pay a reasonable price for these placements.
The government will also develop a national cost framework for specialist provision packages, whether that is within a specialist base in a mainstream school or a special school, including in the independent sector.
The department is currently undertaking a detailed analysis of the specialist sector, looking at provision models and outcomes within independent schools, to ensure changes are rooted in robust evidence.
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