Clause 133

Part of Education and Skills Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 3:45 pm on 28 February 2008.

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Photo of John Hayes John Hayes Shadow Minister (14-19 Reform and Apprenticeships) 3:45, 28 February 2008

I shall finish my three remaining points, leaving plenty of time for other hon. Members to contribute to the debate.

My third point is that it is very important that local authorities and others have a clearly defined strategy on this matter. My experience of local government as shadow Schools Minister, before I was elevated to higher and further education, was that local authority practice in these terms is variable. Some local authorities have very good, well-established policies, while others are—I am trying to choose my words kindly and carefully—considerably less thought through about these matters.

My fourth point is that it is very important that agencies such as the National Autistic Society the charities that have expertise in this field are properly involved in policy formation.

Finally, I would simply say that some of this debate arises from the wholesale integration into mainstream education of children who should not be there. Although the Government have taken, albeit faltering and grudging, steps down the road that we have wanted them to take from the outset, I urge the Government once again to share the Opposition’s faith, passion and  belief in special schools, which are very often the best place to educate the sort of children of whom we are speaking. They are secure environments, with high levels of expertise, where those children most frequently find the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

I strongly endorse the sentiments expressed by the hon. Member for Blackpool, South and the briefings we have been given by some excellent agencies. I hope the Minister, who must have this clause, will at least mitigate its effects in the ways that we have described.