Moved by
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
75: After Clause 21, insert the following new Clause—
“Early-years area SEN co-ordinators
(1) Local authorities must appoint sufficient full-time equivalent members of staff (to be known as “early-years area SEN co-ordinators”) to have responsibility for coordinating provision for children in Ofsted-registered early years settings other than maintained nursery schools.
(2) In assessing sufficiency of staffing levels under subsection (1), the local authority must have regard to—
(a) the number of children with special educational needs in its area registered with early years settings to which subsection (1) applies;
(b) the number and geographical location of early years settings to which subsection (1) applies.
(3) Regulations may provide for—
(a) further considerations to be made by local authorities in exercising their duties under subsection (1);
(b) the specific responsibilities of early-years area SEN co-ordinators.
(4) The Secretary of State shall publish guidance to local authorities to assist in exercising their functions under subsection (1).
(5) Local authorities must publish information on the provision of early-years area SEN co-ordinators as part of exercising their duties under section 30 of this Act.”