The Special Educational Needs (Information) Bill, proposed by backbench Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, is due to have its second reading in Parliament on Friday (1 February).
The Gateshead East MP said she hoped the bill would end the differences in special needs provision between local authorities. "There are so many children in schools with SEN getting the wrong kind of help, and although information is sometimes collected, nothing meaningful is done with it," she said.
Campaigners argue there is not enough information available at present to be able to identify the scale of SEN within schools and monitor how effective the support pupils receive is. Steve Broach, campaign manager for Every Disabled Child Matters, insisted it was vital to involve schools in gathering data. "Families must have information about the needs their child has and the services on offer. It is really important that we involve schools in collecting better information so we can plan better," he said.
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