Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1131212

registered interest
date	11/06/2019
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 his Department has made of the number of private voluntary and independent childcare settings in each local authority area.
tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
uin	263154
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for Manchester Central and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 17/06/2019 13:52:09 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1129095

registered interest
date	03/06/2019
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 steps his Department has taken to help families access childcare.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	259262
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to making childcare more affordable and more accessible. We plan to spend around £3.5 billion on our early education entitlements this year alone – more than any previous government. All 3 and 4-year olds and the most disadvantaged 2-year olds can access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, this government doubled the childcare entitlement for eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year olds to 30 hours a week.</p><p>We want 30 hours to continue to build on the flexible provision that we were already seeing across the country with the universal 15 hours. All the free entitlements can be “stretched” by taking fewer hours per week over up to 52 weeks of the year to cover term-time and the school holidays and free places can be delivered at weekends.</p><p>Parents can find out information about all the government childcare offers on the Childcare Choices website and use the Childcare Calculator to help them understand what childcare support they are eligible for.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 10/06/2019 16:57:58 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1127505

registered interest
date	20/05/2019
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, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing financial assistance to enable (a) low-income and (b) single-unit families to cover childcare costs during the school summer holidays.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	256327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>The government has taken significant steps to raise the living standards of low-income and single-unit families. This includes raising the minimum wage, raising the personal tax allowance and improving financial incentives to work.</p><p>To support parents into work, the government spends £6 billion on childcare each year:</p><ul><li>Doubling free childcare to 30 hours a week for nearly 400,000 working parents of 3 and 4-year olds.</li><li>Introducing tax-free childcare, worth up to £2,000 per child per year.</li><li>With Universal Credit, parents can claim up to 85% of their childcare costs back compared to 70% on the legacy benefit system.</li></ul><p>We recently announced £9 million of funding for the 2019 summer holidays where we will be exploring how the local coordination of the provision of nutritious food and enriching and healthy activities can help more disadvantaged pupils to access free high quality holiday club provision during the school holidays in 11 areas across the country.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 28/05/2019 14:08:14 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1126195

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
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 steps his Department is taking to increase the (a) level and (b) quality of (i) staff qualifications and (ii) in-service professional development in the pre-school childcare sector.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	253524
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring that all children have access to high quality early education and can achieve their full potential. The latest Ofsted data confirms that 95% of early years providers are now rated ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’, up from 68% in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework is mandatory for all early years providers in England. It sets out the staffing requirements for early years settings, including ratios and qualifications.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2017, we published the early years workforce strategy. This set out how the government will support employers to attract, retain and develop high quality early years staff, which is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-workforce-strategy</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Since then we have worked with sector stakeholders to develop criteria for new more robust level 2 qualifications and awarded a grant to take forward activity to promote gender diversity in the early years workforce. We have also created a new career pathway document to support careers advice, recruitment and staff development. This information is available here: <a href="https://www.cache.org.uk/media/1417/dfe-career-pathway-map-v17.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.cache.org.uk/media/1417/dfe-career-pathway-map-v17.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We are also supporting employer trailblazer groups to develop new apprenticeship standards for the early years workforce and investing £20 million in in-service professional development and training for early years practitioners in pre-reception settings in disadvantaged areas.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 21/05/2019 16:04:42 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1125374

registered interest
date	08/05/2019
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 recent assessment he has made of level of public awareness of the 30 hours free childcare programme in each income decile in England.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	251920
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to helping working families with accessible, affordable childcare and offers a broad range of childcare support.</p><p>The department measures awareness via the annual Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents, the most recent data published as Official Statistics in December 2018: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2018</a>.</p><p>This data will be collected in 2019 via the same survey and published as Official Statistics in December 2019.</p><p>Table 3.1, attached, summarises awareness of the 30 hours policy among families with children aged 0-4 years in England, broken down by various family characteristics such as family income.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 13/05/2019 16:29:19 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi attachment 1 file name 251920_Table_3.1_Awareness_of_the_30_hours_offer.docx title 251920 Table 3.1
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1123987

registered interest
date	30/04/2019
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, whether he plans to extend the number of free childcare hours for low-income families as a means of tackling social inequality.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	249241
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>This government is committed to helping working families with accessible, affordable childcare and offers a broad range of childcare support. The government has no plans to extend the package of free childcare entitlement schemes<strong>. </strong></p><p>Supporting parents who want to work, with the cost of childcare, is important. That is why the government already offers a package of schemes: all 3 and 4–year-olds and the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds can access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, this government doubled the childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to 30 hours a week - saving parents up to £5,000 per year in total if they use the full 30 hours of free childcare available. 30 hours free childcare helps a wide range of families, for example, a lone parent only has to earn from just under £7,000 a year to be able to access 30 hours of free childcare and a couple from just under £14,000.</p><p>Tackling social inequality is not just about 30 hours free childcare. The government is committed to supporting disadvantaged children, for example, through the 2-year-old entitlement, the early years pupil premium and the actions announced in ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’. We will continue to track the outcomes of disadvantaged children, where the gap continues to close. Tax-Free Childcare provides additional financial help from government to help with any additional costs. Eligible parents can also claim up to 85% of their childcare costs through universal credit.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 09/05/2019 14:41:01 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1111157

registered interest
date	10/04/2019
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 assessment he has made of the take up of the 30 hour childcare entitlement in West Sussex.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	243302
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours free childcare entitlement are able to take up a place that suits their childcare needs.</p><p>Data from the National Statistics release ‘Education Provision for Children Under 5 Years of Age in England (January 2018)’ suggests around 3 out of 4 eligible children have taken up some extended hours, however it is not possible to generate an equivalent figure at local authority level due to the relatively small population that we are estimating within sub-national geographies. As at 31 January 2019, 5,728 30 hours eligibility codes had been issued in West Sussex for the Spring term, 5,144 of these had been validated and as at 28 March 2019 5, 230 children were taking up a place in the West Sussex.</p><p>We plan to spend around £3.5 billion on our early education entitlements this year alone – more than any other government. Our funding rates for the early education entitlements were based on our Review of Childcare Costs, described as “thorough and wide ranging” by the National Audit Office. We recognise the need to keep our evidence base on all aspects of early years sector costs up to date and we continue to monitor the provider market closely through a range of regular and one off research projects. That included the 2018 Early Years Provider Costs report which looked at a representative sample of providers, both in terms of provider type and geography, and gives an insight into various aspects of the provider market.</p><p>Data published by Ofsted in November 2018 shows that the number of childcare places available has remained broadly stable since 2012. Since the rollout of 30 hours commenced in September 2017, the sector has risen to the challenge with more than 340,000 3 and 4 year old children benefitting from a place and we receive contact regularly from the sector on this and associated topics. We are now in the second year of national delivery and an estimated 325,000 children were in a 30 hours place in the spring term 2019 – this is an increase on the spring term 2018 and 92% of the codes were issued. Although childcare providers do not have to offer the free 30 hours, our 2018 Providers Survey shows that the majority of providers in England with 3 to 4 year olds are offering and delivering 30 hours.</p><p>The data relating to the number of children receiving 30 hours in England is published within tables 5LA and 7LA in the ‘Education Provision for Children under 5 Years of Age (January 2018)’ statistical publication, available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 243303 243304 243305 question first answered 16/04/2019 11:20:56 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1111182

registered interest
date	10/04/2019
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, how many children by years of age receive the 30 hour funded childcare entitlement in England.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	243305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2019 answer text <p>The government is committed to ensuring all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours free childcare entitlement are able to take up a place that suits their childcare needs.</p><p>Data from the National Statistics release ‘Education Provision for Children Under 5 Years of Age in England (January 2018)’ suggests around 3 out of 4 eligible children have taken up some extended hours, however it is not possible to generate an equivalent figure at local authority level due to the relatively small population that we are estimating within sub-national geographies. As at 31 January 2019, 5,728 30 hours eligibility codes had been issued in West Sussex for the Spring term, 5,144 of these had been validated and as at 28 March 2019 5, 230 children were taking up a place in the West Sussex.</p><p>We plan to spend around £3.5 billion on our early education entitlements this year alone – more than any other government. Our funding rates for the early education entitlements were based on our Review of Childcare Costs, described as “thorough and wide ranging” by the National Audit Office. We recognise the need to keep our evidence base on all aspects of early years sector costs up to date and we continue to monitor the provider market closely through a range of regular and one off research projects. That included the 2018 Early Years Provider Costs report which looked at a representative sample of providers, both in terms of provider type and geography, and gives an insight into various aspects of the provider market.</p><p>Data published by Ofsted in November 2018 shows that the number of childcare places available has remained broadly stable since 2012. Since the rollout of 30 hours commenced in September 2017, the sector has risen to the challenge with more than 340,000 3 and 4 year old children benefitting from a place and we receive contact regularly from the sector on this and associated topics. We are now in the second year of national delivery and an estimated 325,000 children were in a 30 hours place in the spring term 2019 – this is an increase on the spring term 2018 and 92% of the codes were issued. Although childcare providers do not have to offer the free 30 hours, our 2018 Providers Survey shows that the majority of providers in England with 3 to 4 year olds are offering and delivering 30 hours.</p><p>The data relating to the number of children receiving 30 hours in England is published within tables 5LA and 7LA in the ‘Education Provision for Children under 5 Years of Age (January 2018)’ statistical publication, available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi grouped question UIN 243302 243303 243304 question first answered 16/04/2019 11:20:56 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1109467

registered interest
date	03/04/2019
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 steps he has taken to increase the number of available childcare places for parents working full-time.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	240484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2019 answer text <p>The department has taken several steps to increase the number of available childcare places for parents working full-time. These include the following:</p><p> </p><ul><li>In June 2016, the department invited local authorities to apply to the Early Years Capital Fund, through which we have allocated £100 million of capital funding to help nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups to create additional places for eligible children from working families.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Further, in July 2018, we announced the School Nurseries Capital Fund. This is a £30 million capital fund which aims to create new high-quality, school-based nursery places for 2, 3 and 4 year olds.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The department has funded Childcare Works to provide expert support to local authorities and childcare providers about maintaining and improving sufficient childcare places in their local area. This has included national events focussing on sufficiency planning and bespoke support for local authorities to strengthen their sufficiency assessments. We have also promoted flexible childcare business models and allocated £7.7 million to 147 local authorities through our Delivery Support Fund, specifically to create additional 30 hours places.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 10/04/2019 16:11:38 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1105601

registered interest
date	27/03/2019
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 the total cost to the public purse was of providing 30 hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds in the (a) autumn 2018 and b) spring 2019 terms.
tabling member constituency	Batley and Spen
tabling member printed	Tracy Brabin
uin	237751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>The government funds local authorities to deliver the early years entitlements on a financial year basis. Allocations for each of the 3 and 4-year old entitlements are:</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2018-19 allocation (provisional)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Universal 15 hours entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds</p></td><td><p>£2.29 billion</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Additional 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds</p></td><td><p>£693 million</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Full details, including allocations for the other early years funding streams (15 hours entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-old children, the early years pupil premium, disability access fund and maintained nursery schools supplementary funding) can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Final funding allocations for 2018-19 will be updated in the summer using data from the January 2019 schools and early years census.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 01/04/2019 15:15:20 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
tabling member	4588 label Biography information for Tracy Brabin