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61656

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Moor View
	tabling member printed	Alison Seabeck
	uin	200445
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Two parliamentary questions tabled to the Department for Education, PQs 198493 (tabled on 13/5/2014) and 198434 (tabled on 12/5/2014), did not receive substantive answers by the time of prorogation. The questions had reply on dates during prorogation, and therefore could not be answered due to the House's rules regarding notice periods.</p><p> </p><p>As a courtesy, both Members have been sent copies of the answers that they would have received had the Department been permitted to give the answers in the usual way.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:15:37 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	1552 label Biography information for Alison Seabeck

61861

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Phonic Screening Check.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	200732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200733 200734 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

61862

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government plans to evaluate the introduction of the Phonic Screening Check and take a decision on its continuation.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	200733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200732 200734 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

61863

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Reading: Teaching Methods
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the information considered by his Department ahead of making the decision to introduce the Phonic Screening Check.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	200734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation</a></p><p>There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.</p><p>The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation</a></p><p>We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report</a></p><p>The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 200732 200733 question first answered 18/06/2014 16:28:01 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

58104

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessments he has made of the successes and failures of the differing primary school starting age in other countries such as Finland and Norway.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198993
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198713 198715 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

58106

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received from (a) researchers, (b) academies, (c) pressure groups, (d) parents and (e) people working in education on the appropriate age for children to enter primary education.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198715 198993 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

58107

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of primary school starting age on (a) intellectual development, (b) social mobility and (c) results in (i) GCSE and (ii) A-level examinations.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	198715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Formal school starting ages vary across OECD member states. However it is useful to compare the state provision of education for young children prior to the start of compulsory education as the majority of children in OECD countries have entered the education system at a young age - participation rates in formal childcare and pre-school are broadly similar across Finland, Norway and the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>Research indicates that most countries have published curricula governing the provision of early years education from the ages four to six years which are consistent in their use of learning objectives and expected outcomes. The Department has commissioned the OECD to carry out an international review of pedagogy and practice in the early years to investigate this issue further. We anticipate a report in autumn 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Research has demonstrated that all-round development is enhanced for those children attending nursery compared to those who don't before starting school. This suggests that attending a formal learning environment from an earlier age is typically beneficial. Furthermore duration in nursery matters, with every month of nursery experience after age two years linked to better intellectual development and improved independence, concentration and sociability at age five with a continued effect at Key Stage 1.</p><p> </p><p>High quality early years education will help close the attainment gap that already exists by the beginning of primary school between disadvantaged children and their peers. Evidence is clear that children's learning and development in their early years is crucial to later attainment. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education Project found that high quality early years education is a strong predictor of achievement in English and mathematics later on in school.</p><p> </p><p>We cannot provide the information requested on representations on this topic. The Department receives a huge volume of mail and representations on education and children's issues. There would be a disproportionate cost to providing a response in this case.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss grouped question UIN 198713 198993 question first answered 19/06/2014 16:37:47 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

61666

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in summer months.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	200501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in the summer months.</p><p>However, research[1] carried out by the Department has demonstrated that the age at which tests are taken is the dominant reason for month of birth gaps in educational attainment, and not the age at which children start school; it is simply the fact of being younger when tested that accounts for most of the differences observed. The research reported no evidence of a causal relationship between school entry age and attainment.</p><p>Parents of summer born children who think their child is not ready to start school can request that their child is admitted outside of their normal age group and be admitted to reception year in the September following their fifth birthday. The school's admission authority is responsible for making the decision which must be based on the individual circumstance of each case.</p><p>[1]<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/182664/DFE-RR017.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:32:29 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

62037

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Polling Stations: Schools
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of school closure for local elections on parents and children.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	200820
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department has made no such assessment. Local returning officers can require a school to act as a polling station and may do so where no suitable alternative venue is available. It is often possible for schools to remain open in such circumstances, but whether to close is an operational decision for the headteacher. We expect headteachers to keep schools open whenever it is reasonable for them to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Where a headteacher decides to close a school on polling day, we expect them to take all necessary steps to minimise any damage to pupils' education. This may include making up the missed day later in the year, or combining the day with one of the five annual training days. We also expect schools to give as much notice as possible to parents of any school closures, including for local elections.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:18:23 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

61668

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Official Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what visits each of the Ministers in his Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
	tabling member printed	Sheila Gilmore
	uin	200482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department does not hold a list of ministerial visits and to compile a list would exceed the cost threshold.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:30:43 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	3965 label Biography information for Sheila Gilmore