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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

61663

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	Education: Basic Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure a high standard of teaching in numeracy and literacy.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	200344
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>We have published a more rigorous curriculum for English and mathematics. The new national curriculum sets expectations that match those in the highest-performing education jurisdictions in the world, challenging pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market. It increases the level of demand from an early age, with greater emphasis on arithmetic, including learning times tables to 12 x 12 by age 9 and removing calculators from key stage 2 tests in mathematics, and on phonics, grammar and vocabulary development in English. GCSEs in English language and mathematics are also being reformed to be more challenging and give stronger guarantees of literacy and numeracy, with the mathematics GCSE in particular covering more than the current GCSE.</p><p> </p><p>We are confident that our reform to the national curriculum will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom, which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free-up teachers to use their professional judgement to provide support that best meets the needs of their pupils.</p><p> </p><p>We have invested in and reformed initial teacher training (ITT) to focus on attracting the very best graduates with the right qualities for teaching into the profession through making more scholarships available; using bursaries to attract more of the most talented graduates in key subjects such as maths and physics and supporting the expansion of the highly-successful Teach First programme. Teach First is now the largest graduate recruiter in any sector in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p>In 2013/14, we recruited 96% of the overall number of trainees we set out to recruit and the proportion with first-class or 2:1 degrees has risen 3 percentage points (74%) – a record compared to last year (71%). We have raised the bar for entry into ITT by making skills tests tougher, limiting candidates to two re-sits and making passing the tests in literacy and numeracy a requirement before entering, rather than exiting, ITT.</p><p> </p><p>Sir Andrew Carter has been appointed to lead an independent review about the effectiveness of ITT. As part of this, the review will look at ITT courses for both primary and secondary teaching to consider how well trainees are equipped to become outstanding teachers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/06/2014 16:27:54 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

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

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

61672

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	Cancer: Health Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to ensure that cancer awareness and awareness of cancer symptoms is covered in schools.
tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
uin	200543
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>Teaching about cancer awareness is important for all young people and schools may include cancer awareness as part of their personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.</p><p>Schools may also teach about cancer awareness in other areas of the curriculum, for example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:33:54 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

61327

registered interest
date	11/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Academic Year
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what economic assessment he has made on the effect on tourism jobs in seaside areas and seaside economies of deregulating school holidays.
tabling member constituency	Wyre and Preston North
tabling member printed	Mr Ben Wallace
uin	200272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government is giving more schools greater flexibility to adapt the shape of the school year in the interests of their pupils' education.</p><p>Whilst this will extend an existing flexibility to a greater number of schools, our advice will continue to include a clear expectation of schools working with each other and the local authority to coordinate dates to avoid unnecessary disruption to parents and their employers.</p><p>The Department has consulted with representatives of the tourist industry. Where schools choose to change their holiday dates, following discussion locally with parents and local businesses, there may well be a positive impact on seaside economies. In areas of high-seasonal employment, for example, small variations to term-dates agreed locally may help parents to holiday outside of peak periods.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 18/06/2014 16:26:11 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1539 label Biography information for Mr Ben Wallace

61427

registered interest
date	11/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of childcare in the UK for a child aged (a) two and under, (b) three to four and (c) five and over; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
uin	200175
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education uses cost information from a number of independent surveys, such as the Family and Childcare Trust Annual Childcare Cost Survey 2014: <br><a href="http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-costs-surveys" target="_blank">http://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-costs-surveys</a></p><p> </p><p>Their findings on the costs of childcare for children aged under two years old and those aged two years and over in England are shown in the tables below. The survey does not identify separately those aged five years and over.</p><p>It is encouraging to note that after 12 years of consistently rising prices, the costs of childcare in England have stabilised for the first time. In fact, once inflation is taken into account costs for the majority of parents have actually fallen. This means more parents are able to access affordable childcare and support their families.</p><p>But the Government is not complacent, and we are working to further increase childcare supply, which will further improve choice and affordability for parents:</p><p>a) More schools are opening their own nurseries for the first time, and we are establishing child-minder agencies to increase the number of child-minders available.<br>b) An increasing number of existing school nurseries are extending opening times from 8am to 6pm.<br>c) We are also making it easier for good nurseries to grow, by removing red-tape and planning restrictions.</p><p>The Government recently announced that the new Tax-Free Childcare scheme will be increased up to £2000 per child and extended to all children under 12 from September next year. This will help around 2 million families.</p><p>To help disadvantaged families, the Government has extended the 15 hours a week of funded early education already available for all three- and four-year-olds to include the most disadvantaged 20% of two-year-olds, and this will be extended further to 40% from September 2014.</p><p>The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) will provide nurseries, schools and other providers of government funded early education with extra money for disadvantaged three- and four-year-olds. The EYPP will be £50 million in 2015-16 and the Department for Education will consult on the details of the programme shortly.<br><br>And all families in Universal Credit will be able to receive 85% support on childcare costs, up from 70% under the current working tax credit system. This change will see 300,000 working families getting more out of the money they earn. More and more families will find that it pays to get a job, from taking the first few shifts back at work, right up to working full-time.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Average weekly childcare costs for England</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Nursery 25 hours </strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Childminder 25 hours </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p><strong>Under two</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Two and over</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Under two </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Two and over</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Weekly cost<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>£110.95</p></td><td><p>£106.19</p></td><td><p>£100.74</p></td><td><p>£101.51</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><sup>1 </sup></strong>Source: Family and Childcare Trust Annual Childcare Costs Survey, 2014</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:54:10 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

60911

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Disciplinary Proceedings
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of staff within his Department who have been dismissed following formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	199903
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>Our data does not record nationality; data held records only ethnicity.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:50:42 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

60914

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration his Department gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	199946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>We take into account an organisation's diversity policy and record where it is relevant to the subject matter of the contract or grant and is permissible by law. Where the organisation is listed as a Crown Strategic Supplier, we would also approach the relevant Crown Representative as part of the appraisal.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:43:09 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson

60915

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Equality
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what targets his Department has for increasing diversity; and what progress has been made on meeting those targets in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Washington and Sunderland West
tabling member printed	Mrs Sharon Hodgson
uin	199925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>Whilst the Department for Education does not set explicit targets for increasing diversity, Management Committee monitors representation rates on a monthly basis.</p><p>The table below shows the change to the workforce over the past year:</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td><p>May-13</p></td><td><p>May-14</p></td><td><p>Annual change (percentage points)</p></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4"><p>Workforce</p></td><td><p>Black and minority ethnic</p></td><td><p>16.6%</p></td><td><p>16.6%</p></td><td><p>0.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Women</p></td><td><p>59.0%</p></td><td><p>57.8%</p></td><td><p>-1.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Disabled</p></td><td><p>11.7%</p></td><td><p>12.1%</p></td><td><p>+0.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>LGBT</p></td><td><p>4.0%</p></td><td><p>4.1%</p></td><td><p>+0.1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>We also monitor the Department's representation rates at SCS against Civil Service 2013 targets:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Female</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>BME</strong></p></td><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Disabled</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td><td><p>DfE</p></td><td><p>CS target</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>SCS</p></td><td><p>44.1%</p></td><td><p>39%</p></td><td><p>5.4%</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td><td><p>5.7%</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Women (Director and above)</p></td><td><p>42.9%</p></td><td><p>34%</p></td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 17/06/2014 16:48:59 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	1521 label Biography information for Mrs Sharon Hodgson