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1701828

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	GCE A-level: Assessments
	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 ensure equal treatment of (a) internal and (b) external A Level candidates sitting exams at further education colleges (i) in general and (ii) in the marking of coursework.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
	uin	22220
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>All exam centres, including further education colleges, are required to treat all candidates equally, including private candidates, throughout the examination process. This includes offering all aspects of non-exam assessment (NEA) for that qualification, if required. The marking of NEA would also be the same for all students.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 22/04/2024 15:17:00 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1701930

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Teachers: Workplace Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review her Department's decision to end funding for employer contributions to the teachers' pension scheme for music teachers employed by non-local authority music hubs.
	tabling member constituency	Chesham and Amersham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Green
	uin	22438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>As part of the competition of the Music Hubs programme, Arts Council England informed potential bidders on 15 June 2023 that department funding would be made up of the revenue and capital grants only, and that there would not be additional funding to contribute to the cost of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) for Music Hub lead organisations that are not local authorities from September 2024. The Arts Council also published indicative allocations for the 43 new Music Hub areas.</p><p> </p><p>In light of the increase in employer contributions to TPS from April 2024, the department will take steps to determine the level of employer liability across all the newly appointed Hub Lead Organisations from September 2024. This has not been possible until recently, as applicants were informed of the outcome of the Music Hubs Investment Programme on 8 April 2024. The department will then work with Arts Council England to set final Music Hub grant allocations for the 2024/25 academic year and, as part of this work, due consideration will be given to additional pension pressures due to the increase in employer contribution to the TPS.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 22/04/2024 16:23:23 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4918 label Biography information for Sarah Green

1701932

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Mental Health Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on accelerating the roll-out of mental health support teams in schools and colleges since publication of the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
	tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
	uin	22428
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Meeting children’s social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs is a crucial aspect of strong special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision. This is why the SEND and alternative provision Improvement Plan works to facilitate a more joined-up response between the department and NHS England to support children with SEMH needs. Schools and colleges can play a vital role in promoting and supporting pupil and student mental health and wellbeing, both in providing early support and intervention and through liaison with specialist services as required.</p><p> </p><p>Mental health support teams (MHSTs) have achieved their NHS Long Term Plan coverage ambition a year early and more teams are coming. As of March 2023, 3.4 million pupils and learners were covered by mental health support teams in schools and colleges in England, which equates to 35% of pupils and learners in England. The department estimates that 498 MHSTs will be up and running by April 2024, covering at least 44% of pupils and learners. The department further estimates there will be 600 teams covering at least 50% of all pupils across primary and secondary schools by 2025. New coverage data will be published in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 22/04/2024 12:34:58 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1701933

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the SEND and alternative provision improvement plan published in March 2023, what steps she is taking to ensure families have confidence in the mediation process set out in that plan.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Hallam
	tabling member printed	Olivia Blake
	uin	22429
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>The reforms set out in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and alternative provision Improvement Plan are geared towards making families’ overall experience of the SEND system more positive through more collaborative, consistent and transparent decision-making, thereby increasing parental confidence and leading to a less adversarial system.</p><p> </p><p>The department wants to rebalance the SEND system through earlier identification of need and through support provided, where possible, in mainstream settings. The department is currently testing a range of measures through the Change Programme. The department believes the Change Programme will make the biggest improvements to the quality of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans, and the experience of getting them. These measures include multi-agency panels to improve the quality of decision making and parental confidence in the EHC needs assessment process, a single national EHC plan template and guidance, advisory tailored lists and measures to resolve disagreements more quickly through the use of strengthened mediation procedures.</p><p> </p><p>Strengthening mediation is key part of the departments proposals. This is because where effective mediation takes place, disputes can be resolved earlier, without the need to appeal to the Tribunal. The department is working closely with the Council for disabled children to develop bespoke mediation guidance for families so that they understand the process, their rights and the benefits of mediation.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising the importance of families receiving high-quality mediation, the department is working with the Civil Mediation Council and the College of Mediators to review and build on their existing professional standards for SEND mediators, first published in 2018, which apply to their joint register of accredited mediators. The department has engaged parents/carers, children and young people in the drafting and testing of the guidance and standards.</p><p> </p><p>The department are also developing and testing a good practice delivery model for SEND mediation to help improve the quality and consistency of mediation provision, as well as gathering more data on the impact and outcomes of mediation.</p><p> </p><p>All of these things taken together should help improve family confidence in the overall SEND system, as well as in the mediation process.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 22/04/2024 12:30:36 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4864 label Biography information for Olivia Blake

1701322

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: ICT
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data, updated on 29 February 2024, what steps (a) her Department and (b) the Student Loans Company have taken to mitigate the risks of red-rated legacy IT systems.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	22006
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>The Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), in the Cabinet Office, has established a programme to support departments managing legacy IT. CDDO has agreed a framework to identify ‘red-rated’ systems, indicating high levels of risk surrounding certain assets within the IT estate. Departments have committed to have remediation plans in place for these systems by next year (2025).</p><p>It is not appropriate to release sensitive information held about specific red-rated systems or more detailed plans for remediation within the department’s IT estate, as this information could indicate which systems are at risk, and may highlight potential security vulnerabilities.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 22/04/2024 16:21:54 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1701533

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Central Bedfordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many meetings Ministers in her Department have had with officials at Central Bedfordshire Council on the transition from a three to two tier school system in Central Bedfordshire.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
	uin	22206
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Officials from the East of England Regions Group have a weekly schedule of meetings with Central Bedfordshire officials, where a member of its Schools for the Future Programme responsible for the transition from a three to two tier school system is available to provide updates on the programme. In addition, on 23 February 2024, the department held a specific meeting where Central Bedfordshire officials provided an update on the progress of its three to two tier transition.</p><p>No Ministerial meetings were held in 2023 or 2024 with Central Bedfordshire Council to discuss its plans to move from a three to two-tier educational system.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 22207 question first answered 22/04/2024 16:27:53 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern

1701534

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Central Bedfordshire
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many meetings officials in her Department have had with Central Bedfordshire Council officers on the transition from a three to two tier school system in Central Bedfordshire.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Alistair Strathern
	uin	22207
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>Officials from the East of England Regions Group have a weekly schedule of meetings with Central Bedfordshire officials, where a member of its Schools for the Future Programme responsible for the transition from a three to two tier school system is available to provide updates on the programme. In addition, on 23 February 2024, the department held a specific meeting where Central Bedfordshire officials provided an update on the progress of its three to two tier transition.</p><p>No Ministerial meetings were held in 2023 or 2024 with Central Bedfordshire Council to discuss its plans to move from a three to two-tier educational system.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 22206 question first answered 22/04/2024 16:27:53 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	5000 label Biography information for Alistair Strathern

1701581

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Grants
	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 introducing non-repayable maintenance grants for higher education students from the least advantaged backgrounds.
	tabling member constituency	Canterbury
	tabling member printed	Rosie Duffield
	uin	22095
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>The government believes that income contingent student loans are a fair and sensible way of financing higher education (HE). It is only right that those who benefit from the system should make a fair contribution to its costs. The government have continued to increase maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for undergraduate and postgraduate students each year, with a 2.8% increase for the 2023/24 academic year and a further 2.5% increase announced for 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the government have frozen maximum tuition fees for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By 2024/25, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven successive years. The department believe that the current fee freeze achieves the best balance between ensuring that the system remains financially sustainable, offering good value for the taxpayer, and reducing debt levels for students in real terms.</p><p> </p><p>The government understands the pressures people have been facing with the cost of living and has taken action to help. The government have already made £276 million of student premium and mental health funding available for the 2023/24 academic year to support successful outcomes for students including disadvantaged students.</p><p> </p><p>The government have also made a further £10 million of support available to help student mental health and hardship funding for the 2023/24 academic year. This funding will complement the help universities are providing through their own bursary, scholarship and hardship support schemes. For the 2024/25 financial year, the government have increased the Student Premium (full-time, part-time, and disabled premium) by £5 million to reflect high demand for hardship support. Further details of this allocation for the academic year 2024/25 will be announced by the Office for Students in the summer.</p><p> </p><p>Overall, support to households to help with the high cost of living is worth £108 billion over 2022/23 to 2024/25, which is an average of £3,800 per UK household. The government believes this will have eased the pressure on family budgets, which will in turn enable many families to provide additional support to their children in HE to help them meet increased living costs.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Luke Hall question first answered 19/04/2024 10:24:10 answering member 4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall
	tabling member	4616 label Biography information for Rosie Duffield

1701596

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Home Education: Registration
	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 establish a register of children who are home educated.
	tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
	tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
	uin	22199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>The government supports the right of parents to educate their children at home. The department knows that many who do so are very committed and educate their children well, sometimes in difficult circumstances.</p><p>However, this government is committed to ensuring local authorities ensure all of these children are in receipt of suitable education.</p><p>The government is committed to legislating for statutory registers. Thanks to my honourable friend, the member for Meon Valley, for her work on her Children Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Bill, which the department is supporting as it progresses through Parliament.</p><p>The bill will introduce statutory, local authority-maintained registers of children not in school and help local authorities undertake their existing duties to ensure all children receive a suitable education and are safe, regardless of where they are educated.</p><p>It is important to note that elective home education in itself is not considered an inherent safeguarding risk. Most parents who take up the weighty responsibility of home education do a great job, and many children benefit from being educated at home. It is the government’s view that, when used correctly and in line with guidance, local authorities have sufficient existing powers to investigate and take action in cases where there is concern for the welfare of any child, including those who are educated at home. The department therefore does not have any plans to introduce regular mandatory welfare checks for these children.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 22200 question first answered 19/04/2024 15:27:38 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1701597

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2024
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Home Education
	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 mandating regular welfare checks for home educated children.
	tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
	tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
	uin	22200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>The government supports the right of parents to educate their children at home. The department knows that many who do so are very committed and educate their children well, sometimes in difficult circumstances.</p><p>However, this government is committed to ensuring local authorities ensure all of these children are in receipt of suitable education.</p><p>The government is committed to legislating for statutory registers. Thanks to my honourable friend, the member for Meon Valley, for her work on her Children Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Bill, which the department is supporting as it progresses through Parliament.</p><p>The bill will introduce statutory, local authority-maintained registers of children not in school and help local authorities undertake their existing duties to ensure all children receive a suitable education and are safe, regardless of where they are educated.</p><p>It is important to note that elective home education in itself is not considered an inherent safeguarding risk. Most parents who take up the weighty responsibility of home education do a great job, and many children benefit from being educated at home. It is the government’s view that, when used correctly and in line with guidance, local authorities have sufficient existing powers to investigate and take action in cases where there is concern for the welfare of any child, including those who are educated at home. The department therefore does not have any plans to introduce regular mandatory welfare checks for these children.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 22199 question first answered 19/04/2024 15:27:38 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan