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1388079

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	Special Educational Needs: 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 (b) assessment he has made of the potential effect of the spread of the variant on absences from special schools and (b) steps is he taking to ensure students who attend those schools required to isolate are able to access continued learning and support.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>We know that the Omicron variant is spreading quickly, and studies are underway to collect data to help us understand the impact, including for children and young people.</p><p>On 9 December, 4.9% of all pupils were absent in all state-funded special schools for reasons related to COVID-19. This represents the total proportion of pupils absent due to all variants of COVID-19. Among those pupils, 0.1% were absent because they were isolating in line with government guidance at the time, including due to being identified as a close contact of a suspected Omicron case.</p><p>Since the emergence of Omicron, we have updated the operational guidance for special schools and other specialist settings, which sets out how settings should ensure that pupils and students who are required to isolate are able to access continued learning and support. The guidance is clear that whilst our priority is face-to-face, high quality education for all pupils and students, if they are unable to attend then we expect their education setting to be able to offer them access to high quality remote education.</p><p>We recognise that some pupils and students with special needs may need support to access remote education, and so expect schools and colleges to work collaboratively with families so that they can successfully access remote education appropriate for their level of need. Settings should keep in regular contact with children and young people to assess the effectiveness of any remote education.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 18:18:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388081

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, whether his Department has issued updated guidance to children’s social care providers on mitigating measures to prevent the spread of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The department published updated guidance for children’s social care providers on 15 December.</p><p>The guidance includes revisions in line with the introduction of ‘Plan B’ for England. This prioritises measures which can help control the transmission of COVID-19, while seeking to minimise economic and social impacts, and is in line with the measures set out in the government’s formal ‘COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021’.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 17:55:04 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

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

1388089

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 and Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps is he taking to support early years providers to recruit and retain staff.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93827
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>We are committed to supporting the early years sector to develop a workforce with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to deliver high quality early education and childcare, and to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. That is why we have recently announced an additional £153 million in programmes to support workforce development, including increasing the number of places available for early years initial teacher training. We are also developing new early years training routes, including a new National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership and support for new apprenticeship routes for careers in the early years.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/01/2022 15:52:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388090

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	Foster 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 number of foster care placements which have been unsuccessful in England in 2020-21 by region.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93828
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The department does not hold information on all adoption breakdowns. We do hold information on the numbers of children who return to care who had had a previous permanence arrangement.</p><p>Figures by region on the number of children who started to be looked after who had a previous permanence arrangement under an adoption order, are shown in the table. National figures are available in table C1 of the statistical release Children Looked After in England (including Adoption) year ending 31 March 2021 at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions</a>.</p><p>National figures showing the reasons why a child changed placement from a fostering arrangement during a year are also available in the same statistical release in table B4 via the above link. The figures in the attached table show this breakdown by region.</p><p>There are many factors that contribute to instability and placements ending in an unplanned way. Since April 2015 we have been collecting the ‘reason for placement changes’ as part of the children looked after data return submitted by local authorities. This helps us to better understand why children move, at a national and local level. However, it is not possible to make a full interpretation of whether these placements were successful or not from the categories described.</p><p>Some placement moves are necessary, particularly when part of a plan to find a longer term or permanent home for a child. Planned moves are often in the best interests of the child - a first placement may be organised at short notice due to an emergency and may not be a perfect fit, or a child may need a short-term placement for specialist care.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 93829 question first answered 06/01/2022 17:10:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince attachment 1 file name 93828_93829_looked_after_children_fostered_adopted.xls title 93828_93829_table
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1388091

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	Adoption
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 number of adoption placements which have been unsuccessful in England in 2020-21 by region.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	93829
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/01/2022 answer text <p>The department does not hold information on all adoption breakdowns. We do hold information on the numbers of children who return to care who had had a previous permanence arrangement.</p><p>Figures by region on the number of children who started to be looked after who had a previous permanence arrangement under an adoption order, are shown in the table. National figures are available in table C1 of the statistical release Children Looked After in England (including Adoption) year ending 31 March 2021 at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions</a>.</p><p>National figures showing the reasons why a child changed placement from a fostering arrangement during a year are also available in the same statistical release in table B4 via the above link. The figures in the attached table show this breakdown by region.</p><p>There are many factors that contribute to instability and placements ending in an unplanned way. Since April 2015 we have been collecting the ‘reason for placement changes’ as part of the children looked after data return submitted by local authorities. This helps us to better understand why children move, at a national and local level. However, it is not possible to make a full interpretation of whether these placements were successful or not from the categories described.</p><p>Some placement moves are necessary, particularly when part of a plan to find a longer term or permanent home for a child. Planned moves are often in the best interests of the child - a first placement may be organised at short notice due to an emergency and may not be a perfect fit, or a child may need a short-term placement for specialist care.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 93828 question first answered 06/01/2022 17:10:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince attachment 1 file name 93828_93829_looked_after_children_fostered_adopted.xls title 93828_93829_table
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes