Young People: Disability

Education written question – answered at on 1 December 2011.

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Photo of Stephen Lloyd Stephen Lloyd Liberal Democrat, Eastbourne

To ask the Secretary of State for Education

(1) if he will bring forward legislative proposals in the next parliamentary Session to provide young disabled people with a legal right to a package of support up to the age of 25;

(2) whether he will bring forward legislative proposals on special educational needs to include a right to educational support up to the age of 25 for all young people with (a) autism and (b) other disabilities.

Photo of Sarah Teather Sarah Teather The Minister of State, Department for Education

We are committed to developing a radically different system to support better life outcomes for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities, including those with autism. We want disabled young people to have access to choice and opportunity at al stages of their education, with a range of supported pathways into employment and independent living.

The special educational needs and disability Green Paper—“Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability”—sets out our ambitions for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. One of its central proposals is to introduce a single assessment process and new 'Education, Health and Care Plan' for young people with special educational needs, up to the age of 25, which will bring together the support on which children and their families rely across education, health and social care.

These proposals have been the subject of extended consultation. We are considering the responses and will be publishing a report by the end of the year with our progress and the next steps. We will consider legislative changes as we develop these proposals further.

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