Manifestos

The three main UK parties' manifestos set out their plans for what they will do if their party forms the next Government. Below is a summary of the key points that may affect deaf children and young people, and other children with special educational needs (SEN).

Labour
Conservative
Liberal Democrat
Other party manifestos
More information

Please note that candidates are standing in the general election from across the UK. However, a number of policy areas, such as education, health and social care, are matters for the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly. Elections to these devolved administrations are not taking place at the same time as the general election, and separate manifestos on these devolved issues will be published when these elections take place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Labour

Schools will be held to account for how well they meet the needs of SEN pupils and the statementing process will be improved to give more support to parents
Determined to narrow the gap between children on a low income, with SEN or disability and their peers.
Guarantee of one-to-one tuition and small group tuition for every child who falls behind
All primary school children will be taught a modern foreign language
More investment in anti-bullying interventions
Consult on further reforms to simplify the benefits system
Continue to invest in specialist services, including short breaks for disabled children
Protect Child Trust Funds and contribute an additional £100 a year to Child Trust Funds for disabled children
Guarantee childcare and constructive activities from 8am until 6pm in term-time for primary school children
Invest £235 million to create new or refurbished play spaces and adventure playgrounds

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Conservative

“Call a moratorium on the ideologically-driven closure of special schools” and “End the bias towards the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream schools”
Parents to be able to set up their own schools. New academy schools in most deprived areas, and primary schools able to become academies.
Cut contributions to Child Trust Funds for all but poorest third and disabled children
Protect Disability Living Allowance
Devolve control over health budgets to the lowest possible level, so people have more control over their health needs
Keep Sure Start, and provide 4,200 more Sure Start health visitors
Support the provision of free nursery care for pre-school children, to be provided by a diverse range of providers
Introduce a £1 million fund to help people with disabilities who want to become MPs, councillors or other elected officials

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Liberal Democrat

Guarantee SEN diagnostic assessments for all 5-year-olds, improve SEN provision and improve SEN training for teachers.
An extra £2.5 billion on schools, to be spent on a “pupil premium”
End Child Trust Funds
Cut the size of the central department of Children, Schools and Families, and focus its activities on a few strategic priorities
Protect existing childcare support arrangements until the nation’s finances can support a longer term solution: a move to 20 hours free childcare for every child, from the age of 18 months
Reform Access to Work, so disabled people can apply for jobs with funding already in place for equipment and adaptation that they need
Confront bullying and include bullying prevention in teacher training
Require better recording of hate crimes against disabled, homosexual and transgender people, which are frequently not centrally recorded
Create elected Local Health Boards, which will take over the role of Primary Care Trust boards in commissioning care for local people

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