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1624010

registered interest
date	26/04/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to reduce the potential disruption to children’s learning progress caused by possible future disease pandemics.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	182896
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2023 answer text <p>Most infectious diseases, including COVID-19, can be managed in schools by following the advice set out in the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) ‘Health protection in children and young people settings, including education’ guidance. This guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities</a>. The Department maintains close links to UKHSA.</p><p>The Department has appointed a dedicated Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Russell Viner, who ensures that the Department is fully linked up with the science network across Government.</p><p>In addition, schools can consult the Department’s ‘Emergency planning and response for education, childcare, and children’s social care settings’ guidance to ensure their emergency plans cover the possibility of any future significant public health incidents. This guidance is due to be updated in May 2023. The current guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-planning-and-response-for-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings</a>.</p><p>The Department is committed to learning lessons and continuous improvement from COVID-19. Almost £5 billion for education recovery was made available in response to COVID-19. The Department will continue to maintain focus on the implementation and impact of these recovery interventions, evaluating and learning from delivery, alongside the Department’s wider efforts to drive up attainment outcomes, specifically those of disadvantaged pupils.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 09/05/2023 15:07:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1271361

registered interest
date	15/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Private Education: Scholarships
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure more children from disadvantaged and care backgrounds have access to private school scholarships to support their charitable status.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	130143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2020 answer text <p>In May 2018, the Department for Education and the Independent Schools Council (ISC) agreed a joint understanding designed to expand the participation of independent schools in various initiatives across the system. In particular, it encourages independent schools to offer a greater number of full bursary places, targeted at children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We continue to work constructively with the ISC on this.</p><p>The Department is working to increase the involvement of independent schools alongside boarding schools to open up more educational opportunities for children in need. We recently appointed the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation to deliver a project that will establish hubs in which independent schools, local authorities, social workers and Virtual School Heads, will work in partnership to promote school placements for children in need.</p><p>The Department continues to encourage and support new partnerships between independent and state funded schools. This programme aims to harness the resources and expertise found across sectors through the development of partnership activities, many of which are specifically tailored for pupils from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds. In line with the Department’s joint understanding with the ISC, we want to see more schools forming impactful and mutually beneficial collaborations across the areas of curriculum development, teaching quality, governance and leadership, and other targeted forms of school improvement to maximise the social benefits that can be generated for their communities.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 22/12/2020 12:24:13 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1256849

registered interest
date	30/11/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Remote Education
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 potential merits of mandating online school teaching for one week before Christmas holidays to minimise the need for school students and teaching staff to self-isolate over Christmas.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	122794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2020 answer text <p>It continues to be the Department’s aim that all pupils, in all year groups, remain in school full-time. Returning to school full time has been vital for children’s education and for their wellbeing. Time out of school is detrimental for children’s cognitive and academic development, particularly for disadvantaged children. This impact can affect both current levels of education and children’s future ability to learn.</p><p>As set out in the Government’s COVID-19 Winter Plan, nurseries, schools and colleges should not change their Christmas holidays or close early this term: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-winter-plan</a>. Parents should continue to send their children to school during term time. The leaders and staff of education settings have been doing an extraordinary job to remain open, keep settings safe, and provide education.</p><p>Schools have implemented a range of protective measures to minimise risk of COVID-19 transmission. The risk to children themselves of becoming severely ill from COVID-19 is low and there are negative health impacts of being out of school. Senior clinicians, including the Chief Medical Officers of all four nations, still advise that school is the very best place for children to be.</p><p>If parents have concerns about their child attending school because they consider they or members of their household may have particular risk factors, they should discuss these with their school.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 03/12/2020 15:39:24 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1219193

registered interest
date	30/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	After School Clubs: Social Distancing
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 effect on the feasibility of social distancing due to the covid-19 outbreak at after-school clubs operating at schools from September of the (a) number of children attending and (b) the number of children from different school bubbles attending those clubs.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	66925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The Department has published guidance on the full opening of schools from September. It advises that schools should consider resuming any breakfast and after-school provision, where possible, from the start of the autumn term. Such provision will help ensure pupils have opportunities to re-engage with their peers and with the school, ensure vulnerable children have a healthy breakfast and are ready to focus on their lessons, provide enrichment activities, and also support working parents. The guidance is available here: <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>We recognise that this will be logistically challenging for schools. Schools should carefully consider how they can make such provision work alongside the wider protective measures the guidance supports them to put in place, including keeping children within the year groups or smaller bubbles they are in during the school day, where possible. If it is not possible to maintain bubbles being used during the school day then schools should use small, consistent groups in their breakfast and after-school activities.</p><p>Schools can consult the guidance produced for summer holiday childcare, available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak</a>, as much of this will be useful in planning extra-curricular provision. This includes schools advising parents to limit the number of different wraparound providers they access, as far as possible.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 66926 question first answered 08/07/2020 16:45:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1219194

registered interest
date	30/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	After School Clubs: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to schools running after-school clubs on the reopening of schools during the covid-19 outbreak in September.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	66926
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The Department has published guidance on the full opening of schools from September. It advises that schools should consider resuming any breakfast and after-school provision, where possible, from the start of the autumn term. Such provision will help ensure pupils have opportunities to re-engage with their peers and with the school, ensure vulnerable children have a healthy breakfast and are ready to focus on their lessons, provide enrichment activities, and also support working parents. The guidance is available here: <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>We recognise that this will be logistically challenging for schools. Schools should carefully consider how they can make such provision work alongside the wider protective measures the guidance supports them to put in place, including keeping children within the year groups or smaller bubbles they are in during the school day, where possible. If it is not possible to maintain bubbles being used during the school day then schools should use small, consistent groups in their breakfast and after-school activities.</p><p>Schools can consult the guidance produced for summer holiday childcare, available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/protective-measures-for-out-of-school-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak</a>, as much of this will be useful in planning extra-curricular provision. This includes schools advising parents to limit the number of different wraparound providers they access, as far as possible.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 66925 question first answered 08/07/2020 16:45:27 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1186269

registered interest
date	18/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to provide support for disadvantaged students that may find it difficult to study at home during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	31638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department is ensuring that the most vulnerable children, including those who have a social worker or an Education, Health and Care Plan, are able to continue attending school during the COVID-19 outbreak, as school is a well-recognised protective factor.</p><p>We recognise that many schools have already started sharing resources for students who are at home and are grateful for this. We are working with the BBC and other partners to provide advice and support directly to schools, parents and carers including online resources parents can access for their children at home.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 27/03/2020 13:00:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1186270

registered interest
date	18/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his Department has to provide support for (a) GCSE and (b) A-Level students that are required to self-isolate as a result of having covid-19 symptoms.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	31639
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced to the House on 18 March, the Government has taken the difficult decision to cancel all examinations due to take place in schools and colleges in England this summer, as part of the fight to prevent the spread of coronavirus.</p><p>The Department’s priority is to ensure that students can move on as planned to the next stage of their lives, including starting university, college or sixth form, a job or an apprenticeship in the autumn. For GCSE, AS and A-level students, we will ensure they are awarded a grade which reflects their work. A calculated grade will be awarded this summer based on the best available evidence, including any non-examination assessment that students have already completed. The qualifications regulator, Ofqual, is working urgently with examination boards to set out proposals for how this process will work and more information will be provided as soon as possible.</p><p>We recognise that many schools have already shared resources for children who are at home and are grateful for this.</p><p>The Department is working with the BBC and other partners to provide advice and support directly to parents, including online resources they can access for their children at home.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 27/03/2020 12:37:17 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1186272

registered interest
date	18/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Coronavirus
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 on the effect of noise distraction at home on the effectiveness of online classes for (a) primary and (b) secondary school students during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	31641
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has not conducted any assessment of the effect of noise disruption on the effectiveness of online classes.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 07/04/2020 14:18:04 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1174023

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Holocaust: Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to educate young people on the Holocaust.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	9085
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The Department is fully committed to Holocaust education. Every young person should learn about the Holocaust and the lessons it teaches us today, which is why it is unique in being the only subject named as a compulsory part of the history curriculum.</p><p>The Department further supports pupils’ and teachers’ understanding of the Holocaust by providing funding for the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project - £2,126,437 in 2019-20 and £2,193,675 in 2020-21 and to the UCL Institute of Education’s Centre for Holocaust Education - £500,000 in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, match funded by the Pears Foundation. Additionally, £1.7 million for the 2019-20 financial year is being provided for the Bergen-Belsen Commemoration Programme to commemorate the 75<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 05/02/2020 12:39:44 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1167435

registered interest
date	30/10/2019
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Supply Teachers: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure supply teachers are sufficiently trained in the subjects they teach.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	7767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>Headteachers use their professional judgement to decide the structure of the school’s workforce, including recruiting and deploying staff in a way that best meets the needs of their school and pupils. Schools, academies, and local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of their supply teachers, which includes deciding whether to use private supply agencies to fill temporary posts and teacher absences, and the level of training required to teach those subjects.</p><p>The Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the qualifications for teachers employed by schools, including supply teachers. In maintained schools, teachers must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), except those who satisfy the requirements for non-qualified teachers to carry out specified work set out in the Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012, for example, instructors with special qualifications or experience.</p><p>Academies and Free Schools can employ teaching staff without the automatic requirement for them to hold QTS. This applies equally to supply teachers and teachers employed by schools. The Education (Specified Work) (England) Regulations 2012 are available here: <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/762/introduction/made" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/762/introduction/made</a>.</p><p>To be awarded QTS, a teacher must demonstrate that they meet all of the Teachers’ Standards at the appropriate level, including those relating to subject knowledge. The Teachers’ Standards are available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teachers-standards</a>.</p><p>The Department has launched a new deal in conjunction with the Crown Commercial Service to improve agency practices and support schools with getting value for money when hiring agency workers. Agencies on the deal must be open with schools and staff about the rates they charge, conduct consistent, rigorous background screening checks, and adhere to strict controls around the charging of temp-to-perm fees. Information on the guidance included in the deal is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/deal-for-schools-hiring-supply-teachers-and-agency-workers</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 04/11/2019 17:36:55 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith