National Disability Strategy issued

The Department of Work and Pensions has issued the disability strategy which sets out the Government’s vision to improve the everyday lives of disabled people. The document is the conclusion of a four-month consultation process in which over 14,000 disabled people, companies, charities, and other interested parties had their views heard. The strategy is separated into three parts, each focussing on specific areas and highlighting what the government has done so far or intends to do, to ensure that disabled people have the opportunities that non-disabled people are afforded. 

Part 1: Practical steps now to improve disabled people’s everyday lives
Part 2: Disabled people’s everyday experience at the heart of government policy making and service delivery
Part 3: A cross-government effort to transform disabled people’s everyday lives

In part 3 each of the departments across government is highlighting how they will contribute. Vicky Ford MP, Ministerial Disability Champion for the Department for Education states: 
“I am absolutely committed to supporting disabled children to reach their full potential and lead a happy and fulfilled adult life. Education plays a key part in making this a reality. I have seen many examples of early years settings, schools and colleges doing great work, ensuring the right support is available at the right time. But I know that this isn’t yet available to everyone, and the forthcoming review of the Special Educational Needs and Disability system will be key to delivering better outcomes for disabled children.” 

As part of the strategy, the DfE commits to: 

• completing a wide-ranging review of actions to improve outcomes for children with SEND 
• increasing by £730 million in financial year 2021–22 the high needs revenue funding for children and young people with more complex SEND 
• investing a further £300 million to improve access to existing provision in schools and make accessibility adaptations for children and young people with SEND in financial year 2021 to 2022 
• extending continuing professional development in how to support pupils and students with SEND to teachers and other staff and funding the training of more educational psychologists to provide specialist advice
• investing £8.6 million in financial year 2021 to 2022 to strengthen the participation of parents and young people in the SEND system, ensuring they have a voice and have access to high quality information, advice and support 
• driving improvements to the supported internships programme 
• increasing the number of disabled people entering into apprenticeships and ensuring that those who start an apprenticeship go on to thrive