Lords question Children’s Minister and Minister for Disabled people on support available for young disabled people transitioning from education to employment

The sessions will focus on the types of support available for young, disabled people including educational support and workplace support such as internships and apprenticeships and also support available for employers.

The first session will start at 3.00pm and can be watched live or on demand at Parliament TV, or in person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster.

Giving evidence will be:

3.00pm

• David Johnston OBE MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing), Department for Education (DfE);
• Alison Ismail, Director, Special Educational Needs and Disability and Alternative Provision, DfE and;
• Hannah Sheehan, Director, Skills Journey Directorate, DfE.

410pm

• Mims Davies MP, Minister of State (Minister for Disabled people, Health and Work), Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and;
• Lorraine Jackson CBE, Director, DWP and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Joint Work & Health Directorate, DHSC.

Questions will include:

• A consistent theme throughout the inquiry has been the absence of specialist careers advice for young disabled people at all stages. How will the Department for Education ensure that disabled students are receiving quality careers advice and education to facilitate transitions into employment? How will education providers be held to account?
• How does support on the transition to employment differ between a) children with Education, Health and Care Plans, and b) children with special educational needs but no EHCP?
• What steps is the Department for Education taking to ensure curriculum and assessment reforms meet the needs of young disabled pupils?
• Throughout this inquiry the Committee has heard of frustration about the lack of joined up thinking between government departments regarding the support young disabled people receive during the transition from education to employment, with many young disabled people facing a ‘cliff-edge’ when they leave education. How are the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions addressing this?
• What steps are the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions taking to ensure young disabled people receive high quality support during the transition from education to employment, ideally before they become unemployed?
• What steps is the Government taking to improve existing schemes’ support for young disabled people?
• How is the Department for Work and Pensions planning to improve and reform the Disability Confident scheme and when are these reforms expected to be implemented?