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1179331

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	to ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he plans to take to ensure adequate funding for schools.
	tabling member constituency	Harlow
	tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
	uin	18756
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2020 answer text <p>The Department is giving schools the largest cash boost in a decade, investing a total of £14 billion additional funding for schools over the next three years. This will allow school funding to increase by £2.6 billion in 2020-21, followed by increases of £4.8 billion and £7.1 billion in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively, compared to 2019-20.</p><p>We will continue to distribute funding through the National Funding Formula (NFF), which ensures that funding is based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. This will ensure that per-pupil funding for every school can rise at least in line with inflation next year; and faster than inflation for most. On average schools are attracting 4.2% more per pupil.</p><p>We have also recently laid regulations in Parliament which give legal force to the new minimum per pupil funding levels. This will allow us to aid the lowest funded schools to ensure that every secondary school attracts at least £5,000 per pupil next year, and every primary school at least £3,750 – on the path to receiving at least £4,000 per pupil the following year.</p><p>Finally, we have removed the gains cap in the NFF for 2020-21, so that all schools will attract their full allocations under the formula. This means that we can deliver the greatest gains to areas historically underfunded to ensure that they have the right investment to deliver an outstanding education.</p><p>The Department will continue to move towards a ‘hard’ national formula as soon as possible, meaning a single national formula will determine every school’s final budget, rather than it being set independently by each local authority. We will work closely with local authorities and the sector in making this transition carefully.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 18791 question first answered 28/02/2020 17:05:38 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1087088

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Free Schools: South West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	o ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's press release of 11 March 2019, Thousands of places created in new special free schools, where in the South West he plans for those new special free schools providing 500 new places to be located.
	tabling member constituency	South West Wiltshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Andrew Murrison
	uin	231398
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2019 answer text <p>On 11 March 2019, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced the approval of 37 special free schools and 2 alternative provision free schools, providing thousands of new school places for children with special educational needs or those facing additional challenges in mainstream education. This includes the approval of 6 new special schools in the south-west. The schools will open in the following local authority areas: Cornwall, Dorset, North Somerset, Plymouth, Somerset and Wiltshire. The new school to be opened in Wiltshire local authority will be located in Salisbury and will also cater for students in the surrounding areas.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 20/03/2019 17:36:21 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	1466 label Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison

1085844

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2019
	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	When his Department plans to publish a response to its call for evidence on home education.
	tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
	tabling member printed	Paul Masterton
	uin	909689
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2019 answer text <p>There were more than 3000 responses to the call for evidence which are still being considered. Many dedicated families are doing a very good job educating their children at home, taking on heavy responsibilities in doing so.</p><p>We are concerned, however, that overall numbers of children said to be being educated at home are rising, the reasons for which are complex. We need to help local authorities deal effectively with children who are not in school. We will publish the Government’s response soon.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/03/2019 16:47:25 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4625 label Biography information for Paul Masterton

1277269

	registered interest
	date	18/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What support his Department is providing to help safeguard (a) staff and (b) children in early years settings during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	North Thanet
	tabling member printed	Sir Roger Gale
	uin	910858
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2021 answer text <p>The department has worked collaboratively with Public Health England to develop a system of controls, which when implemented in line with a revised risk assessment, create an inherently safer environment where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced for children and staff.</p><p>Settings must comply with health and safety law, which requires them to assess risks and put in place proportionate control measures. Settings should thoroughly review their health and safety risk assessment and draw up plans on re-opening, in the event that they have to close. Settings should have active arrangements in place to monitor that the controls are effective, working as planned, and updated appropriately, for example when any issues are identified, or when there are changes in public health advice.</p><p>When conducting risk assessments, settings should ensure consideration is given to staff and children with protected characteristics from groups where a disparity has been shown by the review of disparities in risks and outcomes (for example, age and sex, where someone lives, deprivation, ethnicity and/or people’s occupation).</p><p>The department has published the ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ guidance, which provides details on the system of controls and how they work in practice. The guidance is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures</a>.</p><p>We are continuing to work closely with other government departments and local authorities to secure the most effective approach to asymptomatic testing for the whole of the early years sector. This includes ongoing discussions about providing testing via the education testing programme as well as strongly encouraging local authorities to prioritise appropriate testing for early years staff via Community Testing programmes, which now covers all local authorities. The fastest way testing can currently be delivered is through the community rapid asymptomatic testing being run by local authorities.</p><p>We are rolling out our asymptomatic testing programme to primary schools, schools-based nurseries and maintained nursery schools. The asymptomatic testing programme will offer all primary school, schools-based nursery and maintained nursery school staff home Lateral Flow Device test kits for twice weekly testing. This will help to break the chains of transmission of COVID-19 in education settings by identifying asymptomatic positive cases. Those who test positive will then self-isolate, helping to reduce transmission of the virus.</p><p>Furthermore, with regard to vaccinations, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that the first priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of mortality and the maintenance of the health and social care systems. As the risk of mortality from COVID-19 increases with age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.</p><p>Under the priority groups for the first phase of vaccine rollout, those over 50 years of age, and all those 16 years of age and over in a risk group, would be eligible for vaccination within the first phase of the programme. This prioritisation captures almost all preventable deaths from COVID-19.</p><p>Regarding the next phase of vaccine rollout, the JCVI have asked that the Department of Health and Social Care consider occupational vaccination in collaboration with other Government departments. The department is inputting into this cross governmental exercise.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 18/01/2021 18:14:21 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	87 label Biography information for Sir Roger Gale

803730

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Admissions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps the Government is taking to ensure that more students from disadvantaged backgrounds go to university.
	tabling member constituency	Walsall North
	tabling member printed	Eddie Hughes
	uin	902866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>There are already record numbers of disadvantaged English 18 years olds benefitting from full-time higher education, and universities expect to spend over £860 million in 2018/19 on measures to improve the access and success of disadvantaged students, up from £404 million in 2009, through their access agreements.</p><p> </p><p>The Higher Education and Research Act includes a transparency duty requiring all universities to publish applications, offers, acceptance and retention rates broken down by gender, ethnicity and social economic background. This will help to hold universities to account for their records on access and retention.</p> answering member constituency Orpington answering member printed Joseph Johnson question first answered 11/12/2017 17:44:28 answering member 4039 label Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone
	tabling member	4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes

803728

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Faith Schools
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps she is taking to support the opening of more faith schools.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	uin	902862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>I am a strong supporter of Church and faith schools, they are high performing, popular with parents and make an excellent contribution to our education system. Through the free schools programme we have supported the creation of 71 new state-funded Church and faith schools.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/12/2017 18:51:34 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb previous answer version 28798 answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

803729

	registered interest
	date	11/12/2017
	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	What steps she is taking to support local authorities to meet the cost of providing school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
	tabling member printed	Sir Edward Davey
	uin	902863
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>We are providing high needs funding of £5.84 billion to local authorities this year, rising to £5.97 billion next year, to help local councils support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.</p><p>Earlier this year we gave local councils £23 million to support a strategic review of their special provision, and have allocated £215 million of capital funding to enable local councils to create more places for those with special educational needs and disabilities.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 11/12/2017 17:39:01 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1290397

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Department for Education: Regional Planning and Development
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps his Department plans to take to implement the Government's levelling up agenda.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Dr Jamie Wallis
	uin	912686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>We are implementing an exciting and ambitious reform programme to level up the further education sector, ensuring it becomes a powerhouse that supplies the skills employers need, and equips young people and adults to have productive and fulfilling careers.</p><p>On 21 January 2021 we published the Skills for Jobs white paper focused on giving people the skills they need, in a way that suits them, so they can get great jobs in sectors the economy needs and boost this country’s productivity. Area based planning is a key focus; Local Skills Improvement Plans will be introduced to help providers to better serve the needs of their local area.</p><p>We are also ensuring people have opportunities to upskill and reskill at different points in their life by delivering my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. This includes introducing a Lifelong Loan Entitlement from 2025, funding people for their first level 3 (A level equivalent) course, and short, flexible ways to train through employer-led bootcamps. These measures will be a key enabler in levelling-up for those who do not have university level education.</p><p>We have put in place a number of programmes and policies to address the long-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the COVID-19 catch-up premium and the Skills Recovery Package, which is focused on supporting young people. This includes incentives for employers to take on new apprentices, tripling the number of traineeships, and a new high-value course offer for school leavers.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 01/03/2021 17:39:44 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	4766 label Biography information for Dr Jamie Wallis

1352738

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Universities: Antisemitism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps his Department is taking to tackle anti-Semitism on university campuses.
	tabling member constituency	Bury South
	tabling member printed	Christian Wakeford
	uin	903339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2021 answer text <p>There is no place in our society, including within higher education (HE), for antisemitism. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition is an important tool in tackling antisemitism. Adopting the widely recognised definition sends a strong signal that HE providers take these issues seriously.</p><p>My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, wrote to the sector in October 2020, calling upon leaders to adopt the IHRA definition. He repeated this message in May 2021, reinforcing the government's expectation that providers adopt the IHRA definition, stressing the even greater importance of doing so in light of increased number of antisemitic incidents recorded (as a result of the conflict in the Middle East). We are aware of over 100 HE providers which have now adopted the IHRA definition. This includes over 80 universities.</p><p>In his February 2021 strategic guidance letter, the Secretary of State for Education also asked the Office for Students (OfS) to undertake a scoping exercise, to identify providers which are reluctant to adopt the definition. On 29 July 2021, the OfS announced they intend to publish a list of HE providers who have adopted the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in autumn 2021, alongside resources for providers.</p><p>The decision on adoption of the definition rests with individual providers, but the government will continue to urge them to adopt the definition and ensure that HE is a genuinely fulfilling and welcoming experience for everyone.</p><p>Adoption of the IHRA definition is only a first step, and while the government considers that adoption of the definition is crucial, it is not enough on its own. That is why I will continue to work with the sector to ensure it better understands antisemitism and does more to end it.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 06/09/2021 15:24:15 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
	tabling member	4871 label Biography information for Christian Wakeford

1231708

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupils: Mental Health
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What steps his Department is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people as they return to school as covid-19 restrictions are eased.
	tabling member constituency	Bromley and Chislehurst
	tabling member printed	Sir Robert Neill
	uin	905514
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2020 answer text <p>Getting children and young people back into education, with settings devoting time to supporting wellbeing, will play a fundamental part in supporting children and young people’s mental health. The return to school will allow social interaction with peers, carers and teachers, which benefits wellbeing. The department has now published detailed plans for all children and young people to return to full-time education from September. The guidance for schools is available here: <br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We have been working hard to ensure that all pupils and learners will return to a full high-quality education programme in September. Our £1 billion Covid catch-up package, with £650 million shared across schools over the 2020-21 academic year, will support education settings to put the right catch-up and pastoral support in place. More information is available here: <br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/billion-pound-covid-catch-up-plan-to-tackle-impact-of-lost-teaching-time</a>.</p><p> </p><p>As pupils return to school, staff need to be equipped to understand that some children and young people may be experiencing feelings in such as anxiety, stress or low mood as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and that these are normal responses to an abnormal situation. Our Mental Health and Behaviour in Schools Advice includes information about what to look for in terms of underlying mental health issues, linked to the graduated response and the support that might be suitable. More information is available here: <br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2</a>.</p><p> </p><p>From September, the Government is investing £8 million to launch the new Wellbeing for Education Return training programme, which will provide schools and colleges all over England with the knowledge and practical skills they need to support teachers, students and parents, to help improve how they respond to the emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This is additional to longer term work to improve support, including the new mental health support teams that we are rolling out across the country, linked to schools and colleges. More information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/8m-programme-to-boost-pupil-and-teacher-wellbeing" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/8m-programme-to-boost-pupil-and-teacher-wellbeing</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The department in collaboration with Public Health England and NHS England, delivered two webinars in July to provide further mental health support. The first webinar was for schools and colleges to support teachers in promoting and supporting the mental wellbeing of children and young people during the COVID-19 outbreak. The second event was for stakeholders across the local system to support strengthening of local partnerships to further support children and young people’s mental health as they return to school. We had around 10,000 sign up to the first webinar and around 1,300 to the second, and they are now available online for wider use.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to working in partnership across education, health, the voluntary sector and local authorities to ensure that children and young people, parents and carers, and the professionals supporting them:</p><ul><li>can access good-quality resources</li><li>are confident in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing (as well as their own) and</li></ul><ul><li>ensure access to specialist services when they’re needed.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Access to mental health support is more important than ever during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHS mental services remain open. All NHS mental health trusts are providing 24/7 open access telephone lines to support people of all ages. The Government has also provided over £9 million to mental health charities to ensure they can continue to support people experiencing mental health challenges throughout the outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 905505 question first answered 07/09/2020 15:10:07 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	1601 label Biography information for Sir Robert Neill