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1388567

registered interest
date	16/12/2021
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 funds his Department has paid to Diversity Role Models in each of the last five years; and to what projects those funds were allocated.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	94270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>During Anti-Bullying Week, the department announced funding to five leading organisations, including Diversity Role Models, to deliver new anti-bullying projects which are aimed at preventing and tackling bullying of all children and young people, including those with protected characteristics. Diversity Role Models has been offered £187,530.00 grant funding for the period from 10 August to 31 March 2022 Further details can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-for-schools-to-tackle-bullying" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-for-schools-to-tackle-bullying</a>.</p><p>In addition to this, across financial years 2016-2020 Diversity Role Models was involved in two projects as part of the Government Equalities Office (then part of the Department for Education) Anti-Homophobic, Biphobic and Transphobic (HBT) Bullying programme. They received a payment of £57,057.45 in April 2016 and were provided with £131,231.25 to as part of the 2019-20 financial year extension of the Anti-HBT Bullying programme. Further details can be found here: <a href="https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/news/diversity-role-models-appeals-to-schools-to-use-new-funding-to-tackle-bullying-of-lgbt-pupils" target="_blank">https://www.diversityrolemodels.org/news/diversity-role-models-appeals-to-schools-to-use-new-funding-to-tackle-bullying-of-lgbt-pupils</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 12:38:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1388598

registered interest
date	16/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils were in receipt of free school meals in the 12 months from June (a) 2011 and (b) 2021.
tabling member constituency	Harlow
tabling member printed	Robert Halfon
uin	94335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>The department does not hold monthly pupil data of who is in receipt of free school meals. The answer provided is based off the annual School Census. In 2011, 1,246,435 children were eligible for free school meals, 16.8% of the school population. In 2021, 1,737,600 were eligible for free school meals, 20.8% of the school population.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon

1388626

registered interest
date	16/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made on the adequacy of funding provided to local authorities to support the provision of support services to SEND students.
tabling member constituency	Bristol North West
tabling member printed	Darren Jones
uin	94491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>High needs funding for children and young people with complex needs is increasing in the next financial year 2022-23 by £1 billion to over £9.1 billion. This unprecedented year-on-year increase of 13% comes on top of the £1.5 billion increase over the last 2 years, and will continue to support local authorities and schools with the increasing costs they are facing.</p><p>As well as substantial increases in high needs funding for all local authorities, of at least 12% per head, the department are also targeting extra support for those authorities in the most financial difficulty and reviewing the overall system of support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4621 label Biography information for Darren Jones

1388737

registered interest
date	16/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: Disability
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 that children with long-term illnesses are fully supported throughout their education.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	94516
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The government is committed to pupils with medical conditions and long-term illnesses being properly supported at school so that they have full access to education.</p><p>In 2014, the government introduced a new duty on schools to support pupils with all medical conditions and has published statutory guidance on this for schools and others. The guidance can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3</a>.</p><p>Schools also have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments and not to discriminate against disabled children, which may include some children with long-term medical conditions, in relation to their access to education and associated services. Schools must make reasonable adjustments to their practices, procedures and policies to ensure that they are not putting those with a disability at a substantial disadvantage compared with their peers.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 16:28:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1388071

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Bullying
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made a recent assessment of the economic impact over the course of a person's life associated with childhood bullying for (a) women and (b) men.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	93772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The department knows from research that childhood bullying does have a long-term effect over the course of a person’s life. We have not made a specifically quantified assessment of the economic impact, but the effects of bullying are recognised in a wide range of studies.</p><p>In general, mental health and wellbeing are the key factors to be impacted by bullying. The effects can present themselves in many different ways, such as depression or anxiety, and these effects can be long lasting. Evidence also suggests that bullying is likely to have a negative impact on other educational outcomes such as engagement and participation. This means that preventing and tackling bullying can both reduce the costs associated with mental ill health and help realise the benefits associated with educational participation and attainment.</p><p>Schools can play a central role in preventing and tackling bullying. That is why the department has ensured teachers have the power to tackle behaviour issues and provided guidance and support for schools on activity that can prevent it: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying</a>.</p><p>We are also making sure that all children in England will learn about respectful relationships, in person and online, as part of new mandatory relationships, sex and health education. This includes content on the different types of bullying, the impact it has, the responsibility of bystanders, and how to get help.</p><p>As part of Anti-Bullying Week, the department confirmed funding for five leading organisations, worth over £1 million in total, to support schools and colleges in championing tolerance and respect as part of their responsibility to tackle all forms bullying. These projects will support our aim to reduce incidences and the impact of bullying on all pupils, with a particular focus on specific protected characteristics and help us develop our evidence base further.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 13:34:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1388082

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Social Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, what (a) assessment he has made of trends in the level of staff sickness in children’s social care and (b) steps is he taking to support those providers.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>Supporting local authorities to ensure that vulnerable children remain protected is a top priority for the government. The department collects regular data about local authority children’s services staff and residential care workers in relation to staff sickness. The most recent data is published here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vulnerable-children-and-young-people-survey" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vulnerable-children-and-young-people-survey</a>.</p><p>The department does not yet have workforce data covering the period in which the Omicron variant became established in the country. The department is currently collecting this data.</p><p>In addition to data collection and direct communication with local authorities and residential providers, we are in regular contact with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and other stakeholders to monitor workforce risks, including trends in the level of staff sickness, and discuss what support the department can provide.</p><p>We recognise that the Omicron variant could put the workforce under pressure for a short time. While Ofsted will continue inspection of local authority children’s services and local area special educational needs or disabilities provision, local authorities are able to request a deferral for the small number of inspections scheduled to take place in January.</p><p>My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has written to all local authority chief executives and directors of children’s services to reiterate the department’s commitment to supporting children’s services, including using our communications channels to encourage qualified social workers and other professionals who are currently out of the profession to sign up with agencies in their local areas in order to boost supply capacity.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:25 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388084

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
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	To ask the Secretary of State for Education,with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) resourcing and (b) support provided to (i) nurseries and (ii) early years childcare providers on the provision of (A) improved ventilation and (B) other covid-19 mitigation measures in those settings.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.</p><p>This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.</p><p>These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. 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>. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.</p><p>To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.</p><p>We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 92990 92991 92993 93826 question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:14 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388085

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children's Centres and Youth Centres: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) assessment he has made of the potential impact of the omicron variant on (i) children’s centres and (ii) youth clubs, and (b) steps he is taking to help ensure holiday provision can remain safely open during the Christmas holidays.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>​My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced on 8 December 2021 that England will move to Plan B following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant in the UK. Urgent work has been ongoing to understand the impact of the new variant with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Further information on Plan B can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england</a>.</p><p>Ensuring parents can continue to access childcare remains a priority for the government. The department recognises the important role childcare, such as Holiday Activity clubs, play in providing additional childcare options to parents and carers, as well as providing enriching activities and promoting the wellbeing of children. We have prioritised that these settings can remain open, and continue to encourage schools to ensure they are offering this provision, if they have it in place.</p><p>The government also recognises the significant impact of COVID-19 on young people, particularly the most vulnerable, and the important role of youth work in supporting their development and wellbeing. We are engaging regularly with key youth organisations and colleagues in other government departments to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of vital services for young people and options for addressing this.</p><p>We have updated protective measures guidance for the sector, to ensure they can offer this provision as safely as possible, which can be found here: <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" 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</a>.</p><p>Public health advice in this guidance includes UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)-endorsed control measures, which build on the hierarchy of protective measures that were in use throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. When implemented in line with a revised risk assessment, these measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced for children and staff.</p><p>Additionally, specific youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency, in line with guidance published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, other youth sector organisations, union representatives and health and safety experts. Youth workers continue to be classified as key workers delivering frontline services, and currently all young people are able to attend indoor or outdoor youth provision.</p><p>The government continues to manage the risk of serious illness from the spread of the virus. COVID-19 continues to be a virus that we learn to live with, and the imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education and wellbeing remains.</p><p>We will continue to look closely at all the emerging data of the omicron variant but vaccines remain our best line of defence and it is now more vital than ever that those who are unvaccinated come forward, and those eligible for their boosters book when called.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:29 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388086

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Labour Turnover
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the number of early years workers who have left the sector compared to the number of new joiners in each of the past five years.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93825
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The department has published figures on the total number of paid staff working in childcare and early years provision in the ‘childcare and early years providers survey: 2021’. This report shows that the total number of paid staff working in childcare and early years provision in 2021 was estimated at 328,500. This figure is somewhat lower than in 2019 (344,100) but in line with the estimates for 2018 (331,400). 2018 is the earliest year for which comparable data are available. No comparable data was collected in 2020 because of reprioritisation as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>The average (mean) number of paid staff per early years setting remained similar in 2021 compared with 2019 for all provider types.</p><p>We have commissioned qualitative interviews on the theme of early years workforce, including questions about joiners and leavers, and a survey on the impact that COVID-19 is currently having on early years workforce issues. We expect these pieces of research to be published in spring 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 12:01:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388088

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
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	To ask the Secretary of State for Education,with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, whether he has issued updated guidance to (a) nurseries and (b) early years providers on mitigating measures to prevent the spread of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93826
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2022 answer text <p>We continue to publish comprehensive guidance to help the early years sector provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.</p><p>This guidance explains the control measures that settings should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes maintaining good hygiene and appropriate cleaning regimes, keeping spaces well-ventilated, and following public health advice on testing, self-isolation, wearing face coverings and managing confirmed cases.</p><p>These UK Health Security Agency-endorsed control measures create an environment for children and staff where the risk of transmission of infection is substantially reduced. 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>. This has been updated in the light of the emergence of the Omicron variant, although the ways to help control COVID-19 remain the same.</p><p>To help keep spaces well ventilated, all nurseries, and childminders operating on domestic premises in groups of 4 or more, receiving state-funding, were included in the carbon dioxide monitor roll out which took place last term. The new monitors will enable staff to identify areas where ventilation needs to be improved and provide reassurance that existing ventilation measures are working, helping balance the need for good ventilation with keeping rooms warm. We are also providing an additional 7,000 air cleaning units for early years settings, schools and colleges. This will improve ventilation in settings and help to minimise disruption to face-to-face education and care.</p><p>We continue to monitor the early years sector for staffing issues, including through engagement with local authorities. We have provided significant support to protect education and childcare providers from the impact of COVID-19. We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keeping early years settings open for all children.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 92990 92991 92993 93823 question first answered 05/01/2022 18:00:14 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes