Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 40
40
Accepted
Embed commitment for Best Start Family Hubs to include dedicated SENCOs, EPs, and SLTs.
Conclusion
The commitment for every Best Start Family Hub to have a dedicated SENCO should be embedded within the SEND workforce strategy and extend to educational psychologists and speech and language therapists. (Recommendation, Paragraph 176)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation by detailing significant investment of over £31 million to train 600 more educational psychologists by 2025, and states it is working with DHSC and NHS England to improve access to speech and language therapy, affirming support for these roles within Family Hubs.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
funding Best Start Family hubs in every local authority, with children and family services professionals specifically trained in working to support parents of children with additional needs. The Department is working closely with DHSC and NHS England to improve access to community health services, such as speech and language therapy, for children and young people with SEND... Educational psychologists also play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including those with SEND. The Department is already investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists over two cohorts starting their studies in 2024 and 2025. This is in addition to the £10 million being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.