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1688183

registered interest
date	07/02/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Secondary Education: Veterans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of employing veterans as mentors in secondary schools to help tackle (a) persistent absenteeism and (b) disruptive behaviour in classrooms.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	13493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>The department recognises the valuable skills and experience that former military personnel can bring to the education sector.</p><p>The undergraduate veteran teaching bursary provides financial support to eligible veterans who are studying for a degree with qualified teacher status in secondary subjects that are in high demand, such as biology, chemistry, computing, languages, mathematics, or physics. The bursaries are worth £20,000 in each of the last two years of the course and are available to veterans who have left the armed forces within the last five years or are due to leave within the next two years.</p><p>Graduate veterans are also eligible to access generous bursaries in priority subjects via postgraduate Initial Teacher Training routes, alongside other graduates.</p><p>The department does not have plans, at this stage, to look to employ veterans as mentors to support better behaviour and attendance in school. The department is currently delivering an attendance mentoring pilot which is designed to test and evidence effective practice for improving attendance through individual support and targeted family engagement. The pilot, which is delivered by Barnardo’s, involves mentors supporting a group of persistently absent pupils and their families on a one-to-one basis to help identify and address their barriers to education. The pilot is currently being evaluated to improve the existing evidence base on the effectiveness of this style of attendance intervention. The information from this pilot will then be published to help inform both school and local authority practice.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 19/02/2024 14:14:30 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1687910

registered interest
date	06/02/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Veterans: Teachers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2024 to Question 8296 on Veterans: Teachers, whether the Government has plans to improve data capture relating to the number of veterans who are applying for teacher training programmes.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	13227
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The department will review its approach to data capture on veterans as part of its annual planning cycle.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 26/02/2024 11:40:11 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1682061

registered interest
date	15/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Allergies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support available for children with allergies in pre-school nurseries in the West Midlands.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	9388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>The early years foundation stage framework (EYFS) sets the standards that all registered early years providers in England must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to age five and includes provisions to support children with allergies. The framework is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2</a>.</p><p>The EYFS requires that before a child is admitted to the setting the provider must obtain information about any special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies that the child has, and any special health requirements.</p><p>In addition to this, the EYFS states that at least one person who has a current paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate must be on the premises and available at all times when children are present. PFA training must include how to help a baby or child suffering from anaphylactic shock.</p><p>The EYFS also signposts to the Department of Health and Social Care document: ‘Example menus for early years settings in England’ which includes guidance on menu planning, food safety, managing food allergies and reading food labels, which staff preparing food will find helpful in ensuring that children are kept safe. The document is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658870/Early_years_menus_part_1_guidance.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658870/Early_years_menus_part_1_guidance.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In September 2023, the department changed the adequate supervision requirement within the EYFS to be explicit that “adequate supervision” while children are eating means that children must always be in sight and hearing of an adult, not within sight or hearing. This will help practitioners to be able to notice the signs of an allergic reaction as soon as they present and allow them to act quickly.</p><p> </p><p>The new early years educator Level 3 qualification criteria will come into force in September 2024. The criteria is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria-from-1-september-2024" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria-from-1-september-2024</a>. Changes have been made to ensure that early years practitioners have an understanding of allergies and anaphylaxis.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/01/2024 13:05:41 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1680417

registered interest
date	08/01/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Veterans: Teachers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 4 of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan: 2022‑2024, published in January 2022, how many veterans have joined the teaching profession since the publication of that plan.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	8296
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2024 answer text <p>The department supports Veterans into teaching in primary, secondary, and further education through its broad support services and bursaries. Since the publication of its commitments in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan 2022-2024, the department has tailored support and communications for the Veteran community including dedicated teacher training advisers, webpages, case study blogs on the Get Into Teaching website and information in Civvy Street publications. More information is available at the following weblinks:</p><p><a href="https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/if-youre-a-veteran" target="_blank">https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-and-support/if-youre-a-veteran</a>.</p><p><a href="https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/blog/from-the-army-to-teacher-training" target="_blank">https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/blog/from-the-army-to-teacher-training</a>.</p><p><a href="https://civvystreetmagazine.co.uk/2023/05/bring-your-unique-perspective-to-the-classroom-get-into-teaching-2/" target="_blank">https://civvystreetmagazine.co.uk/2023/05/bring-your-unique-perspective-to-the-classroom-get-into-teaching-2/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Also available are bespoke webinars, and attendance at regional employer fairs with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and British Forces Resettlement Service (BFRS) and more information about these can be found by visiting the following weblinks:</p><p><a href="https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding/directory/get-into-teaching" target="_blank">https://www.ctp.org.uk/job-finding/directory/get-into-teaching</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.bfrss.org.uk/profiles/companies/986419/" target="_blank">https://www.bfrss.org.uk/profiles/companies/986419/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst the department collects data to assess the impact of our commitments, it does not have reportable data on the number of veterans applying to initial teacher training. The department is currently exploring what opportunities it has to improve Veteran data capture as it remains committed to promoting opportunities for service leavers and supporting their journey into teaching.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 16/01/2024 12:33:39 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1628247

registered interest
date	16/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: Restraint Techniques
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 whether there is evidence of handcuffing of children in care during secure transportation.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	185207
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2023 answer text <p>The department is clear that restraint, which includes the use of handcuffs, in relation to looked-after children is only permissible in a very narrow range of circumstances, and must always be necessary and proportionate. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and supporting statutory guidance clearly sets out the law regarding the use of restraint where children are placed in children’s homes, including in secure children’s homes. This guidance can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-regulations-including-quality-standards-guide" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-regulations-including-quality-standards-guide</a>.</p><p>Restraint is only permitted in certain instances, in order to prevent injury to any person including the child, to prevent serious damage to the property of any person including the child, or to prevent a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.</p><p>Homes are required to record any incidents of restraint under Regulation 35. There is also a requirement under Regulation 40 for the Registered Person to inform Ofsted of any incident in relation to a child that they consider to be serious, which would usually include an incident of restraint. The department does not routinely collect data on the use of restraint.</p><p>In 2019, the government published guidance on reducing the need for restraint for those responsible for providing education, health, and social care to children and young people under 18 years of age with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties in these settings. This can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812435/reducing-the-need-for-restraint-and-restrictive-intervention.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812435/reducing-the-need-for-restraint-and-restrictive-intervention.pdf</a>.</p><p>Where local authorities have contract arrangements with transport services, restraint should only be used in very limited circumstances, in accordance with the guidance on the use of restraint and must always be necessary and proportionate. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 will be reviewed as part of the government’s response to the Care Review recommendations, Stable Homes, Built on Love. In this, we have committed to review care standards, and will not hesitate to revisit guidance on the use of restraint and strengthen the law in this area, if we find this is necessary.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 22/05/2023 14:01:45 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1628248

registered interest
date	16/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children in Care: Restraint Techniques
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the handcuffing of children in care during secure transportation occurs.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	185208
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>The department is clear that restraint, which includes the use of handcuffs, in relation to looked-after children is only permissible in a very narrow range of circumstances, and must always be necessary and proportionate. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and supporting statutory guidance clearly sets out the law regarding the use of restraint where children are placed in children’s homes, including in secure children’s homes. This guidance can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-regulations-including-quality-standards-guide" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-homes-regulations-including-quality-standards-guide</a>.</p><p>Restraint is only permitted in certain instances, in order to prevent injury to any person including the child, to prevent serious damage to the property of any person including the child, or to prevent a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.</p><p>Homes are required to record any incidents of restraint under Regulation 35. There is also a requirement under Regulation 40 for the Registered Person to inform Ofsted of any incident in relation to a child that they consider to be serious, which would usually include an incident of restraint. The department does not routinely collect data on the use of restraint.</p><p>In 2019, the government published guidance on reducing the need for restraint for those responsible for providing education, health, and social care to children and young people under 18 years of age with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties in these settings. This can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812435/reducing-the-need-for-restraint-and-restrictive-intervention.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/812435/reducing-the-need-for-restraint-and-restrictive-intervention.pdf</a>.</p><p>Where local authorities have contract arrangements with transport services, restraint should only be used in very limited circumstances, in accordance with the guidance on the use of restraint and must always be necessary and proportionate. The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 will be reviewed as part of the government’s response to the Care Review recommendations, Stable Homes, Built on Love. In this, we have committed to review care standards, and will not hesitate to revisit guidance on the use of restraint and strengthen the law in this area, if we find this is necessary.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 23/05/2023 12:19:29 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1623708

registered interest
date	25/04/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Apprentices: Taxation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much of the £600 million apprenticeship levy returned to his Department due to the decrease of apprenticeship starts has been allocated to Birmingham City Council.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	182484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>The apprenticeship levy is an important part of the government’s reforms to create a high-quality, employer-led apprenticeships system, and it supports employers of all sizes to invest in high-quality apprenticeship training.</p><p>The government, via HM Revenue and Customs, collects the apprenticeship levy of 0.5% on total payroll from businesses across the UK with a payroll of more than £3 million. From this, HM Treasury (HMT) sets an English apprenticeships budget for the Department for Education, and the devolved governments receive a share of the funding calculated using the Barnett formula. The department has seen some underspends in the apprenticeships budget in previous years, and these are set out in the department’s annual report and accounts. However, this was not the case in the 2021/22 financial year, when the total spend on apprenticeships in England was £2,455 million, against the budget of £2,466 million, meaning that 99.6% of the apprenticeships budget was spent.</p><p>Any underspends in overall departmental budgets by the end of the financial year are first returned to HMT, as per the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance. As employers choose which apprenticeships they offer and when, annual spend of the apprenticeship budget is subject to employer demand.</p><p>The apprenticeship system is employer-led, with apprenticeship funding available for both levy-paying employers and smaller employers who do not pay the levy. Apprenticeship funding is, therefore, not allocated to organisations, such as Birmingham City Council, sectors or regions, nor to particular groups of apprentices.</p><p>The government is increasing apprenticeship funding to £2.7 billion by the 2024/25 financial year to support apprenticeships growth. The department has also created flexible training models, like flexi-job and accelerated apprenticeships, to make apprenticeships accessible. The BBC are one of our Flexi-Job Apprenticeship Agencies and have launched a training hub in Birmingham to support new apprenticeship starts in the creative sector in the West Midlands. We have also improved the transfer system to make it easier for levy paying employers to find other employers who wish to take on new apprentices with transferred funds.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 02/05/2023 11:38:27 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1600771

registered interest
date	02/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Disability
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 providing disabled children who are eligible for free school meals and (a) are unable to attend school due to a long-term medical condition and (b) cannot eat those meals as a result of (i) dietary requirements and (ii) sensory processing difficulties with a (A) direct payment or (B) voucher scheme instead.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	156922
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2023 answer text <p>​​The Education Act 1996 places a duty on maintained schools and academies to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria for eligibility and who are attending school during term time. The Act makes clear that a child must be registered at a publicly funded school as a condition of claiming FSM.​</p><p>​Local Authorities are funded to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those who are unable to attend school on a long term basis. Parents are advised to liaise with Local Authorities to consider suitable alternatives in line with the guidance on long term illnesses, which is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education</a>.​</p><p>​The Department is always considering how it can best support children with SEND and their parents. The Department will keep its guidance on FSM under review to ensure that it is meeting user needs.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 09/03/2023 13:24:58 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1600772

registered interest
date	02/03/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will include in her Department's guidance for schools and local authorities on free school meals how (a) local authorities and (b) schools should provide free school meals to disabled children who are unable to access them.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	156923
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2023 answer text <p>The Education Act 1996 places a duty on maintained schools and academies to provide free school meals (FSM) to pupils of all ages that meet the criteria for eligibility and who are attending school during term time. The Act makes clear that a child must be registered at a publicly funded school as a condition of claiming FSM.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities are funded to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those who are unable to attend school on a long term basis. Parents are advised to liaise with Local Authorities to consider suitable alternatives in line with the guidance on long term illnesses, which is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/illness-child-education</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is always considering how it can best support children with SEND and their parents. The Department will keep its guidance on FSM under review to ensure that it is meeting user needs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 10/03/2023 12:22:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1586298

registered interest
date	17/02/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Financial Services: Primary Education
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 assessment of the implications for her policies of the Centre for Financial Capability’s finding that one-fifth of primary school children have access to financial education.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	146774
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government wants all young people to manage their money well, make sound financial decisions and know where to seek further information when needed.</p><p>The Department works closely with the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) and HM Treasury to consider the wide range of evidence for financial education, and to explore the opportunities to improve the availability to high quality financial education for all pupils. This evidence includes reports from the Centre for Financial Capability.</p><p>MaPS has a statutory duty to develop and coordinate a national strategy to improve people’s financial capabilities. Their ten year strategy, published in 2020, set out their national goal that two million more children and young people will receive a meaningful financial education by 2030. The strategy is supported by Delivery Plans for each nation of the UK. This can be found here: <a href="https://www.maps.org.uk/uk-strategy-for-financial-wellbeing/" target="_blank">https://www.maps.org.uk/uk-strategy-for-financial-wellbeing/</a>.</p><p>The Department has introduced a rigorous mathematics curriculum which provides young people with the knowledge and financial capabilities to make important financial decisions. In the primary mathematics curriculum, there is a strong emphasis on the essential arithmetic that pupils should be taught. This knowledge is vital, as a strong grasp of mathematics will underpin pupils’ ability to manage budgets and money, including, for example, using percentages. There is also some specific content regarding financial education, such as calculations with money. Primary schools can also choose to teach financial education content within their citizenship curriculum, using the non-statutory citizenship curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2. This can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizenship-programmes-of-study-for-key-stages-1-and-2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/citizenship-programmes-of-study-for-key-stages-1-and-2</a>.</p><p>MaPS published financial education guidance for primary and secondary schools in England, to support schools to enhance the financial education currently being taught. This guidance can be found here: <a href="https://maps.org.uk/2021/11/11/financial-education-guidance-for-primary-and-secondary-schools-in-england/" target="_blank">https://maps.org.uk/2021/11/11/financial-education-guidance-for-primary-and-secondary-schools-in-england/</a>.</p><p>The Department and MaPS will deliver a series of joint financial education webinars this academic year, aimed at promoting the importance of financial education for all pupils, improving teacher confidence and knowledge.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 27/02/2023 17:11:21 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe