EPILEPSY AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

Early day motion 1314, tabled 2 April 2008 by Chris McCafferty (Labour). Signed by 67 members.

That this House congratulates the Joint Epilepsy Council on its campaign to ensure that the Department for Children, Schools and Families recognises epilepsy as a condition that causes special educational needs (SEN); notes with concern that children and young people with epilepsy routinely experience potential health, learning, behavioural and emotional needs as a direct result of their epilepsy; regrets that around two-thirds of children and young people with epilepsy who attend mainstream schools are believed to underachieve academically; further notes that this equates to 40,000 affected children, given that there are 60,000 children with epilepsy in UK schools; and urges the Government to consider the needs of children and young people with epilepsy when enacting the Children's Plan commitment to improve SEN data collection.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 15, Conservative 8, DUP 3, Independent 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, UKIP 1.