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1683414

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Adult Education: English Language and Mathematics
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support adults to reach GCSE level English and Maths.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	10483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2024 answer text <p>This government recognises the importance of English and mathematics skills, both in work and everyday life. Securing good levels of literacy and numeracy increases individual productivity, improves earnings and employment opportunities, supports economic growth and breaks cycles of intergenerational economic and social disadvantage.</p><p>Consequently, the department is continuing to support participation in English and mathematics provision through ‘essential skills entitlements’ which provide the opportunity of free study for adults who do not have essential literacy and numeracy skills up to and including Level 2.</p><p>This allows learners who have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 or higher to undertake a range of courses fully-funded through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) including GCSEs, Functional Skills and other relevant qualifications from entry level to Level 2.</p><p>The department also supports training for adults in community settings through the AEB. Prioritised for disadvantaged learners, community learning can provide a 'stepping stone' for those adults who are not ready for formal accredited learning, or who would benefit from learning in a more informal way.</p><p>In addition, all apprentices, including adults, are funded to achieve up to a Level 2 in English and mathematics by the end of their apprenticeship. The department has increased the apprenticeship funding rate for English and mathematics by 54% from January to support apprentices to gain these vital skills, from £471 to £724.</p><p>The department has also launched the Multiply programme to improve adult numeracy. This is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is the government’s flagship fund for supporting people and places across the UK. Up to £270 million is directly available for local areas in England to deliver innovative interventions to improve adult numeracy. Delivery is now well underway. Multiply provision is available across the country, with over 67,000 course starts in England since the programme began to the end of August 2023.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 10484 question first answered 26/01/2024 12:28:22 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1683415

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Adult Education: English Language and Mathematics
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will help provide free adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy education.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	10484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2024 answer text <p>This government recognises the importance of English and mathematics skills, both in work and everyday life. Securing good levels of literacy and numeracy increases individual productivity, improves earnings and employment opportunities, supports economic growth and breaks cycles of intergenerational economic and social disadvantage.</p><p>Consequently, the department is continuing to support participation in English and mathematics provision through ‘essential skills entitlements’ which provide the opportunity of free study for adults who do not have essential literacy and numeracy skills up to and including Level 2.</p><p>This allows learners who have not previously attained a GCSE grade 4 or higher to undertake a range of courses fully-funded through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) including GCSEs, Functional Skills and other relevant qualifications from entry level to Level 2.</p><p>The department also supports training for adults in community settings through the AEB. Prioritised for disadvantaged learners, community learning can provide a 'stepping stone' for those adults who are not ready for formal accredited learning, or who would benefit from learning in a more informal way.</p><p>In addition, all apprentices, including adults, are funded to achieve up to a Level 2 in English and mathematics by the end of their apprenticeship. The department has increased the apprenticeship funding rate for English and mathematics by 54% from January to support apprentices to gain these vital skills, from £471 to £724.</p><p>The department has also launched the Multiply programme to improve adult numeracy. This is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is the government’s flagship fund for supporting people and places across the UK. Up to £270 million is directly available for local areas in England to deliver innovative interventions to improve adult numeracy. Delivery is now well underway. Multiply provision is available across the country, with over 67,000 course starts in England since the programme began to the end of August 2023.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 10483 question first answered 26/01/2024 12:28:22 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1683418

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Adult Education: English Language and Mathematics
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has provided for adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy education in further education colleges in each of the last 10 years.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	10485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2024 answer text <p>This government is committed to supporting people to climb the ladder of opportunity towards better jobs, better wellbeing and better options for the future.</p><p> </p><p>To enable this, the department recognises the importance of numeracy skills, both in work and everyday life. That is why the department launched Multiply in 2022, the government’s programme for improving adult numeracy. This is funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which is the government’s flagship fund for supporting people and places across the UK. Up to £270 million is available in England and up to £160 million in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to deliver innovative initiatives to tackle poor adult numeracy. The department is responsible for delivery of the Multiply programme in England.</p><p> </p><p>Table of Multiply Programme Spend by Financial Year (England only):</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2021/22</p></td><td><p>2022/23</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£0.32 million</p></td><td><p>£51.88 million</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The spend figures for the 2023/24 financial year will be available in June 2024.</p><p> </p><p>Delivery is now underway. Multiply provision is available in all 81 local areas in England that were allocated funding, with over 67,000 course starts since the programme began to August 2023. Local Areas determine Multiply provision, which will include, but not exclusive to, numeracy interventions delivered by further education colleges.</p><p> </p><p>The Adult Education Budget (AEB) fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to Level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. This includes fully funded English and mathematics courses up to and including Level 2 for learners aged 19+.</p><p> </p><p>In 2022/23, the government devolved approximately 60% of the AEB to nine Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are now responsible for the provision of AEB-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the AEB to providers. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas.</p><p> </p><p>The attached file contains adult (19+) further education literacy and numeracy courses delivered through the AEB from the 2015/16 academic. Please note:</p><ol><li>The data shows the funding earned for delivery through AEB for literacy and numeracy.</li><li>The data does not include delivery of literacy and numeracy courses through 19 to 24 Traineeships and Community Learning as Community Learning is not formula funded and therefore funding cannot be assigned to specific types of provision.</li><li>The data covers delivery through all providers not just further education colleges, therefore will cover local authorities, private providers, etc.</li><li>In 2019/20 the AEB started being devolved, therefore some funding was routed through devolved authorities and currently approximately 60% of AEB funding is devolved. Therefore, funding shown since 2019/20 only relates to learners who are residing in non-devolved areas and are therefore funded by the ESFA.</li></ol> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 26/01/2024 13:23:40 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon attachment 1 file name 10485_ESFA_AEB_Funded_Literacy_and_Numeracy.xlsx title 10485_data_table
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1683426

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Young People: Work Experience
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing young adults who are not engaging with school to attend placements with employers.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	10486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2024 answer text <p>Regular attendance at school is vital for children’s education, wellbeing and long-term development. School attendance is mandatory and parents have a duty, under Section 7 of the Education Act 1996, to ensure that their child of compulsory age, from 5 to 16 years old, receives an efficient full-time education.</p><p> </p><p>During their time in school, pupils should be able to benefit from a range of work experience placements as part of the wider curriculum. The careers statutory guidance makes it clear that schools and colleges should offer every pupil at least one experience of a workplace by age 16 and a further experience by age 18 through work visits, work shadowing and/or work experience, in line with Gatsby Benchmark 6. This provides pupils with multiple opportunities to learn from different employers about work and the skills that are valued in the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>Where a pupil is not attending school regularly, the department expects schools and local authorities to consider the individual circumstances of each pupil and family, and take the best course of action to support the child’s return to school. The department would encourage parents to work with their child’s school and the local authority to discuss the reasons behind their absence and together agree a plan so that the right support can be put in place to help the child return to regular and consistent education.</p><p> </p><p>Ultimately, the local authority has the duty, under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, to provide education for compulsory aged children. Vocational placements, as part of an alternative provision offer, can provide a valuable ‘hook’ back into learning, as well as providing essential life skills for some of our most disengaged learners.</p><p> </p><p>At post-16, pupils have access to a range of work placement opportunities. Thousands of young people have benefited from world-class T Levels, all of which include a meaningful industry placement with an employer of at least 45 days.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 26/01/2024 12:20:32 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1683481

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Blackpool North and Cleveleys
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the average cost of childcare for a (a) two and (b) three and four-year-old child for 25 hours a week in Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	10495
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>In the government’s Spring Budget 2023, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p><p>Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency is within the area covered by Blackpool Council.</p><p>Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents.</p><p>If Blackpool Council report any sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues, and where needed, supports them with any specific requirements through its childcare sufficiency support contract.</p><p>The department does not hold data for the number of childcare providers that have either opened or closed in the Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency, specifically, or by individual years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 10496 10497 question first answered 23/01/2024 17:54:04 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1683485

registered interest
date	18/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Absenteeism
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce school absenteeism in Lancashire.
tabling member constituency	Preston
tabling member printed	Sir Mark Hendrick
uin	10380
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2024 answer text <p>The department has a comprehensive national attendance strategy to ensure that every child attends school every day in all regions of the country.</p><p>This includes the recently expanded attendance hubs programme. There are now a total of almost 2,000 schools, including nine schools in Lancashire, who have been assigned a hub to tackle persistent absence, reaching around 1 million pupils. Attendance hubs are led by senior leaders in schools with effective attendance practice as a way for them to share practical approaches and resources for improving attendance.</p><p>The department published guidance on working together to improve school attendance to ensure that all local authorities and schools, including those in Lancashire, work together to reduce school absenteeism. The guidance is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099677/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099677/Working_together_to_improve_school_attendance.pdf</a>.</p><p>Local authorities, including Lancashire, are expected to rigorously track local attendance data to devise a strategic approach to attendance. In addition, all schools in all regions are required to have an attendance policy and to appoint an attendance champion who is responsible for enforcing this. To help identify children at risk of persistent absence and to enable early intervention, the department established a timelier flow of pupil level attendance data through the daily attendance data collection.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 26/01/2024 12:36:41 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

1682854

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: Mental Health Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's planned update to the statutory guidance on Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children, if he will include a (a) specific focus on mental health services for that group as part of that update and (b) strategy for delivering those services in a culturally sensitive manner.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
uin	10002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>The government gave a commitment to update the statutory guidance, ‘Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children’ and extend it to care leavers up to age 25, in the ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy for the reform of children’s social care. The update forms part of the wider mission in the strategy, to reduce the disparities in long-term mental and physical health outcomes and improve wellbeing for care-experienced people.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care are taking forward this update together, and work is underway to understand how the current guidance is working in practice and where changes are necessary. This includes consideration of whether there is a need to include further guidance regarding mental health support for looked-after children and care leavers, as well as consideration of whether there is a need to include further guidance relating to cohorts with particular characteristics.</p><p> </p><p>The department will work with a wide range of stakeholders with a diversity of professional and personal experience to ensure that the guidance is sensitive to the health and wellbeing needs of all looked-after children and care leavers, including those with protected characteristics as part of government’s duty under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 22/01/2024 17:44:08 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

1682906

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Air Pollution
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that children in school are not exposed to high levels of air pollution.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	9991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>The department has published the Building Bulletin 101, which provides non-statutory guidance on ventilation, thermal comfort and indoor air quality in schools. This is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-101-ventilation-for-school-buildings</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Local outdoor air quality is the responsibility of local authorities who should prepare air quality action plans to ensure the level of pollutants is reduced. In January 2019, the government published the Clean Air Strategy setting out plans to deal with all sources of pollution. This is accessible at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-air-strategy-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-air-strategy-2019</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on good estate management for ventilation in schools is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/good-estate-management-for-schools/health-and-safety</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 23/01/2024 17:24:10 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1683084

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Blackpool South
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the average cost to parents of childcare for a (a) two year old and (b) three or four year old child for 25 hours per week in Blackpool South constituency as of 17 January 2024.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	10202
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>In the government’s Spring Budget 2023, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England.</p><p> </p><p>Blackpool South constituency is within the area covered by Blackpool Council. The department does not hold data for the number of childcare providers that have either opened or closed in the Blackpool South constituency, specifically, or by individual years.</p><p> </p><p>The department continually monitors the sufficiency of childcare in local authorities, and has regular contact with all local authorities in England, about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.</p><p>Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents.</p><p> </p><p>If Blackpool Council report any sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues, and where needed, supports them with any specific requirements through its childcare sufficiency support contract.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 10203 10204 question first answered 22/01/2024 17:46:54 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1683085

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Blackpool South
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of availability of childcare places in Blackpool South constituency.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	10203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2024 answer text <p>In the government’s Spring Budget 2023, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England.</p><p> </p><p>Blackpool South constituency is within the area covered by Blackpool Council. The department does not hold data for the number of childcare providers that have either opened or closed in the Blackpool South constituency, specifically, or by individual years.</p><p> </p><p>The department continually monitors the sufficiency of childcare in local authorities, and has regular contact with all local authorities in England, about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.</p><p>Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents.</p><p> </p><p>If Blackpool Council report any sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues, and where needed, supports them with any specific requirements through its childcare sufficiency support contract.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 10202 10204 question first answered 22/01/2024 17:46:54 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes