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Special Educational Needs

Volume 503: debated on Wednesday 6 January 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the position of screening tools and staff training in relation to young people with special educational needs and communication difficulties in custody announced on 10 November 2009 will be provided for all staff in youth justice settings. (309189)

A hidden disability questionnaire has been developed by Dyslexia Action and is currently being rolled out in Prison Service young offender institutions. However, we are supporting the Communication Trust—as announced on 10 November 2009 during the debate on the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill—to develop and tailor screening tools and training appropriate for staff who work with young offenders in wider youth custody settings and to staff in youth offending teams. We are currently working with the Communications Trust to develop and agree plans and time scales for delivering this.