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100056

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Obesity: Children
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide further advice to schools on how to tackle childhood obesity.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL2262
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2014 answer text <p>This Government recognises that through physical education, competitive school sport and encouraging healthy eating, schools can help address the problem of childhood obesity. The PE and sports premium is part of a package of measures to tackle obesity in primary schools. Our research found 96% of schools said that their pupils are now living healthier lives as a result of the funding. In addition, the introduction of universal infant free school meals will ensure that all infants receive a nutritious school lunch.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 24/10/2014 12:35:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

100058

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Poverty
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, which suggests child poverty reduction targets will not be met, what steps they will take to ensure that those targets are met.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL2264
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>We remain committed to our goal of ending child poverty by 2020.</p><p>The ‘2014-17 Child Poverty Strategy’, published in June this year, outlines our plans to tackle the root causes of poverty, by:</p><ol><li>Raising the incomes of poor children’s families by helping them get into work and making work pay.</li><li>Supporting the living standards of low-income families.</li><li>Raising educational outcomes of poor children.</li></ol><p>Work remains the best route out of poverty. That is why the Government is introducing Universal Credit which will lift around 300,000 children out of poverty due to increased entitlements. This Government is also focused on breaking the cycle of poor children going on to become poor adults. That is why the Government has introduced policies - such as the pupil premium, worth £2.5 billion in 2014-15, to support poor children to reach their full potential and close the attainment gap between them and their more advantaged peers.</p><p>The Government will publish a response to the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission Report in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 27/10/2014 17:32:36 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

42964

	registered interest
	date	13/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing to ensure that children from less privileged backgrounds are not disadvantaged at school.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL6029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2014 answer text <p>Raising the attainment of disadvantaged pupils is a top priority for this Government. That is why we have invested in the pupil premium for schools, which has risen from £625 million in 2011-12 to £2.5 billion in 2014-15, giving schools the additional resources they need to raise disadvantaged pupils' attainment, and give them a better start in life.</p><p> </p><p>We have extended eligibility for funding over the last three years, as well as raising the per-pupil funding rate. When the pupil premium was introduced in April 2011, schools received £488 for each pupil who was registered for free school meals or looked after by the local authority for six months or more. From April 2014, the funding will be £1,300 per primary aged pupil, £935 per secondary aged pupil and £1,900 for each pupil who is looked after for one day or more; or who left care through adoption or a Special Guardianship Order on or after 30 December 2005, or via a Residence Order.</p><p> </p><p>Headteachers are held accountable for the impact of this additional funding in three different ways. Firstly, the performance tables set out the attainment and progress of disadvantaged pupils and the gap between them and their peers. Secondly, Ofsted inspects the achievement of all pupils in a school. Where disadvantaged pupils are making insufficient progress, inspectors are likely to grade a school as requiring improvement and will recommend that the school undertakes a pupil premium review. Thirdly, schools are required to publish online how much pupil premium funding they receive, how they have used this funding and an evaluation of the impact that it has had.</p><p> </p><p>Our EBacc is driving up the number of pupils leaving school with the subjects most prized by employers and universities. Already, our introduction of the EBacc has seen the number of children studying at least 5 of the essential subjects rise.</p><p> </p><p>The free schools programme is another powerful way to ensure greater opportunity for more disadvantaged children. 174 free schools are open, 45% of which were set up in the 30% most deprived areas of the country; communities often poorly served for generations.</p><p> </p><p>Some of our most disadvantaged schools are seeing the improvements brought about by successful academy sponsors. 26.3% of pupils in secondary sponsored academies are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average for secondary schools of 15.1%, yet results in sponsored academies continue to improve faster than in local authority schools.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 04/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

43281

	registered interest
	date	17/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Department for Education and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL6034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education uses a range of feedback mechanisms across policy and delivery work to improve the experience of users and customers. Feedback is commissioned by the relevant teams; there is no central coordination of this activity. To collect details of this would incur disproportionate cost. The Department's management board considers papers covering the range of the Department's responsibilities, which reflect the results of the Department's feedback mechanisms.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

44223

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many head teachers in state-funded schools were removed from their positions in (1) 2010–11, (2) 2011–12, (3) 2012–13, and (4) to date in 2013–14.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL6172
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

44225

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Family and Childcare Trust's recent annual childcare costs survey; and what steps they are taking (1) to ensure that local authorities provide enough childcare for working parents as stipulated under the Childcare Act 2006, and (2) to support disadvantaged families to meet rising childcare costs.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL6174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p>Family and Childcare Trust figures show that in real terms over the past year, in England, the cost of nurseries fell by 2%, the cost of after-school clubs fell by 5% and the cost of a child-minder's after-school pickup fell substantially by 13%. However, the Government is not complacent, and we are taking steps to further increase childcare supply:</p><ol><li>More schools are opening their own nurseries for the first time, and we are establishing child-minder agencies to increase the number of child-minders available.</li><li>An increasing number of existing school nurseries are extending opening times, from 8.00am to 6.00pm.</li><li>We are also making it easier for good nurseries to grow, by removing red tape and planning restrictions.</li></ol><p>The latest figures show there are around 100,000 more childcare places than in 2009. We have also introduced a requirement in statutory guidance for local authorities to publish an annual report to parents and elected members on childcare provision in their area.</p><p>To help disadvantaged families, the Government has extended the 15 hours per week of funded early education already available for all three and four year-olds to include the most disadvantaged 20% of two year-olds. This will be extended further to 40% from September 2014.</p><p>All families in Universal Credit will be able to receive up to 85% support towards their childcare costs, up from 70% in the current tax credit system. This change will see 300,000 working families getting more out of the money they earn.</p><p>The Government recently announced that the new Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be increased up to £2,000 per child and extended to all children under 12 within the first year.In addition to giving support to the self-employed, the scheme has been adjusted to ensure that those working part-time, earning £50 per week and above; those on maternity, paternity or adoption leave; and those starting their own business who may not meet the minimum earning requirement will be included, giving them help with childcare costs for the first time.</p><p>Furthermore, the new Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) will provide nurseries, schools and other providers of funded early years education with extra money for disadvantaged three and four year-olds, improving access to high quality childcare. The EYPP will be £50 million in 2015-16. We will consult on the details of the programme shortly.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

44226

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Governmentwhat action they are taking to increase investment in (1) technological equipment formathematics and science lessons in schools, and (2) interactive tools as learning aids for teachers to use in all academic subjects.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL6175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p>We do want to see schools making informed decisions about what technology will best meet their specific needs. With this in mind, the Department for Education has recently launched The Education Technology Action Group (ETAG), a new policy development group which aims to identify and develop opportunities to maximise the effective use of learning technology across higher education, further education and primary and secondary schools. The group brings together a number of industry and education bodies involved in technology. ETAG will develop a series of evidence based proposals to support the increased use of technology in education at all levels.</p><p>The Department for Education is also running a project to explore how schools can make good use of 3D printers in teaching the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Schools from forty two teaching school alliances, including primary schools such as Fairlawn Teaching School in Lewisham and High View School in Plymouth, have been supported to buy a 3D printer and create interesting and innovative schemes of work, lesson plans and projects using the 3D printer to enhance teaching and learning.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

44227

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to integrate children's centres in local schools, and (2) to increase provision for family-targeted support services as part of the duty of childcare centres.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL6176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p>More than half of all children's centres are co-located with schools or nurseries. Children's centres already provide services for parents such as health and employment services and advice services. It is for local authorities to ensure that the services provided to families meet the needs of their local communities.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

44251

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to maintain the status of religious education teaching in schools; and what assessment they have made of the role of religious education in fostering inter-community relations.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL6200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2014 answer text <p>The Government firmly believes in the importance of Religious Education (RE). To help maintain progress in improving RE teaching, we are establishing a subject expert group on RE chaired by Dave Francis from RE:ONLINE. By working with schools to clarify the key challenges in teaching RE, the expert group will help to ensure that support and resources are available for high quality RE teaching.In addition, as part of reforms to non-EBacc subjects, Ofqual is considering how it could improve the content and rigour of the Religious Studies GCSE.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 02/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

44566

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to fill vacant school governor positions.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL6223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2014 answer text <p>Responsibility for filling a vacancy on a governing body rests with the relevant appointing body for that vacancy. This will vary depending on the category of school and the category of governor.</p><p>Governing bodies should review their membership and size on a regular basis and ensure that appointments are made in an efficient and timely manner. The Governors' Handbook recommends that for every vacancy, governing bodies should conduct a skills audit to identify any gaps in the skills, knowledge and experience of existing governors. Governing bodies should also set out the specific skills and experience that the school needs for the relevant appointing body or electorate.</p><p>The Department for Education has committed funding to School Governors' One-Stop Shop (SGOSS), the governor recruitment charity, to March 2015. SGOSS provides a free service, matching high quality candidates that want to become governors with schools that have governor vacancies, according to the skills the schools need. In addition we are working with employers to encourage them to promote volunteering as a governor to their staff. This can potentially provide schools with an important source of highly skilled governors and is also an excellent learning and development opportunity for the employees concerned, carrying benefits back to their employer.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 31/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey