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1416314

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2022
	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, with reference to his Department's data published on 18 November 2021, what steps his Department is taking to (a) tackle the declining number of adoptions and (b) ascertain the reasons for the 18 per cent decrease in adoptions in 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	111561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2022 answer text <p>Our national adoption strategy, published last year, sets out our bold vision to deliver excellent adoption services across England. It sets our commitment to:</p><ul><li>boost adopter recruitment so that adoptive children are found permanent loving families quickly;</li><li>improve how children are matched with families through removing unnecessary barriers and bureaucracy placed in the way of those seeking to adopt;</li><li>continue to support adoptive families through the Adoption Support Fund; and</li><li>employ a new full-time national Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) strategic leader and support staff to drive collaboration between adoption agencies across the country and lead engagement with other services such as health and education to help children and adopters get the support they need.</li></ul><p>To support delivery of the strategy, we have provided additional funding of £48.1 million in the 2021-22 financial year.</p><p>We continue to discuss adoption numbers with the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and with the RAA Leaders’ group. These discussions have suggested that reasons for the decrease include the impact of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020-21, including on the courts and on wider decision-making processes within local authorities and RAAs.</p><p>Since the national #YouCanAdopt campaign began, we have seen a continued increase in the number of approvals of adopters. We now have more adopters (2,140) than children waiting (2,020).</p><p>Over 1,000 enquiries were received by the 6 adoption agencies sampled for evaluation purposes. Scaled up, the National Adopter Recruitment Steering Group estimated 10,000+ enquiries across all agencies in England during the campaign period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 111562 111563 question first answered 28/01/2022 11:36:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1416315

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2022
	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 steps his Department is taking to (a) encourage more people to adopt and (b) give prospective adopters assurance of lifetime support.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	111562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2022 answer text <p>Our national adoption strategy, published last year, sets out our bold vision to deliver excellent adoption services across England. It sets our commitment to:</p><ul><li>boost adopter recruitment so that adoptive children are found permanent loving families quickly;</li><li>improve how children are matched with families through removing unnecessary barriers and bureaucracy placed in the way of those seeking to adopt;</li><li>continue to support adoptive families through the Adoption Support Fund; and</li><li>employ a new full-time national Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) strategic leader and support staff to drive collaboration between adoption agencies across the country and lead engagement with other services such as health and education to help children and adopters get the support they need.</li></ul><p>To support delivery of the strategy, we have provided additional funding of £48.1 million in the 2021-22 financial year.</p><p>We continue to discuss adoption numbers with the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and with the RAA Leaders’ group. These discussions have suggested that reasons for the decrease include the impact of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020-21, including on the courts and on wider decision-making processes within local authorities and RAAs.</p><p>Since the national #YouCanAdopt campaign began, we have seen a continued increase in the number of approvals of adopters. We now have more adopters (2,140) than children waiting (2,020).</p><p>Over 1,000 enquiries were received by the 6 adoption agencies sampled for evaluation purposes. Scaled up, the National Adopter Recruitment Steering Group estimated 10,000+ enquiries across all agencies in England during the campaign period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 111561 111563 question first answered 28/01/2022 11:36:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1416316

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2022
	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 initial assessment his Department has made of the impact of the national #YouCanAdopt campaign on the number of (a) adoption enquiries and (b) adoption approvals.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	111563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2022 answer text <p>Our national adoption strategy, published last year, sets out our bold vision to deliver excellent adoption services across England. It sets our commitment to:</p><ul><li>boost adopter recruitment so that adoptive children are found permanent loving families quickly;</li><li>improve how children are matched with families through removing unnecessary barriers and bureaucracy placed in the way of those seeking to adopt;</li><li>continue to support adoptive families through the Adoption Support Fund; and</li><li>employ a new full-time national Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) strategic leader and support staff to drive collaboration between adoption agencies across the country and lead engagement with other services such as health and education to help children and adopters get the support they need.</li></ul><p>To support delivery of the strategy, we have provided additional funding of £48.1 million in the 2021-22 financial year.</p><p>We continue to discuss adoption numbers with the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board and with the RAA Leaders’ group. These discussions have suggested that reasons for the decrease include the impact of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020-21, including on the courts and on wider decision-making processes within local authorities and RAAs.</p><p>Since the national #YouCanAdopt campaign began, we have seen a continued increase in the number of approvals of adopters. We now have more adopters (2,140) than children waiting (2,020).</p><p>Over 1,000 enquiries were received by the 6 adoption agencies sampled for evaluation purposes. Scaled up, the National Adopter Recruitment Steering Group estimated 10,000+ enquiries across all agencies in England during the campaign period.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 111561 111562 question first answered 28/01/2022 11:36:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1416929

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Adoption Support Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to rename the Adoption Support Fund, to make it clear that it is also available to special guardianship families.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	112544
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>The Adoption Support Fund (ASF) has had a significant and positive impact on the adoptive and special guardianship families that are able to access the important support it funds. Local authorities continue to promote the availability of the ASF to eligible families.</p><p>The department has worked with local authorities and voluntary sector organisations such as the Family Rights Group and Kinship, to promote the ASF amongst special guardians and we have seen an increase in the take up by these families over the past 2 years.</p><p>The department will be able to confirm more detailed plans for the ASF in due course but remains deeply committed to these families.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 31/01/2022 17:56:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1441007

	registered interest
	date	14/03/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that all looked after children aged 16 and 17 live in accommodation that has carers and provides care.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	139340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2022 answer text <p>This government firmly believes that every child in the care system deserves to live in a high quality home that meets their needs and keeps them safe. The vast majority of looked after children up to the age of 18 live with foster carers or in a children’s home. These placements are subject to robust regulatory checks and balances by Ofsted, to ensure that they meet the needs of children they accommodate and keep them safe.</p><p>When local authorities make a placement decision, they are responsible for ensuring the placement is suitable. This includes ensuring staff who will be looking after the child at the placement are appropriately trained and have the skills needed to meet the needs of the child and to keep them safe. It is not in accordance with the law to place a looked after child in a placement that does not meet their needs and keep them safe, and it is unacceptable for any child or young person to be placed in such a placement.</p><p>The government is clear that supported accommodation for young people, also referred to as unregulated provision, can be the right option for some older children. However, the government is equally clear that the support and accommodation provided in this provision must always be of high quality, and that the young person must be ready for the level of independence it promotes. That is why, in December 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced that the government will invest over £142 million across the next three financial years to fund the introduction of new mandatory national standards, Ofsted registration, and inspection for these providers.</p><p>This means that all placements accommodating looked after children and care leavers up to age 18 will now be regulated by Ofsted, will ensure that local authorities can be confident when making placements in this provision, and strengthen our ability to take action against poor providers.</p><p>Further information on the government’s plans to reform this vital area is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transformational-investment-in-childrens-social-care-placements" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transformational-investment-in-childrens-social-care-placements</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/03/2022 17:47:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1486228

	registered interest
	date	04/07/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Members: Correspondence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Sefton Central dated 16 May 2022 regarding Lydiate Primary School, sent via email on 16 May 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	30006
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2022 answer text <p>The hon. Member for Sefton Central’s correspondence of 16 May 2022 was responded to by my noble Friend, the Minister for the School System, Baroness Barran on 8 June 2022, reference 2022-0018471, and was issued to the email address: <a href="mailto:bill.esterson.mp@parliament.uk" target="_blank">bill.esterson.mp@parliament.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 19/07/2022 16:56:00 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1196527

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2020
	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, what assessment he has made of the risks to school staff who work with children with special educational needs of contracting covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	48400
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2020 answer text <p>The assessment made in relation to the risk to school staff who work with children with special educational needs should be undertaken by the headteacher of the education setting. Headteachers should refer to the guidance regarding the wider opening of schools as of 1 June, which can be found at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june</a>.</p><p>We expect schools and trusts to work closely with parents, staff and unions, as they normally would, when agreeing the best approaches for their circumstances. We also expect schools and trusts to work with their local authorities to determine what services they require and to agree on any specific arrangements during this period.</p><p>To prevent the spread of COVID-19, education, childcare and children’s social care settings must use a range of protective measures to reduce the risk of transmission of infection. This includes making sure that pupils do not attend school if they, or a member of their household, experience symptoms. Other measures include promoting high standards of hand and respiratory hygiene, cleaning touched surfaces more frequently, minimising contact as much as possible and using personal protective equipment (PPE) where appropriate.</p><p>Where PPE is recommended, this means that a facemask should be worn if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained from someone with symptoms of COVID-19 and, if contact is necessary, then gloves, an apron and a facemask should be worn. If a risk assessment determines that there is a risk of fluids entering the eye from coughing, spitting or vomiting, for example, eye protection should also be worn.</p><p>The majority of staff in education, childcare and children’s social care settings will not require PPE beyond what they would normally need for their work, even if they are not always able to maintain distance of 2 metres from others. Additional PPE is only needed if a distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained from any child, young person or other learner displaying COVID-19 symptoms.</p><p>The department has worked with Public Health England to develop further guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, including the use of PPE. This guidance can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care-settings-including-the-use-of-personal-protective-equipment-ppe</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-implementing-protective-measures-in-education-and-childcare-settings</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 02/06/2020 09:00:56 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1259729

	registered interest
	date	09/12/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in 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 implications for his policies of the proposals of the Every Child Leaving Care Matters report entitled, Planning – The English Care Review – how should it be done?, published on 20 November 2020; and if he will make it his policy to undertake a review of the care system.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	127535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2020 answer text <p>The government announced that it will review the care system in its 2019 manifesto. This review will be broad, bold and independently led, taking a fundamental look across children’s social care, with the aim of better supporting, protecting and improving the outcomes of vulnerable children and young people. The urgent local and national response to the COVID-19 outbreak has delayed the launch of the review, but the department is making preparations to launch as soon as possible and will set out further details at that point.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 14/12/2020 15:26:17 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1280230

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Extended Services: Coronavirus
	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 out of hours school clubs that (a) have ceased and (b) will cease to operate as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and what assessment he has made of the effect of their closure on the wellbeing of children and families who use those clubs because the parents are at work.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	142909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2021 answer text <p>The department does not hold a central register of all wraparound provision (out-of-hours school clubs) and is therefore not able to give an assessment on the closure of providers. We do, however, recognise the value this sector offers to our children and young people, in terms of the enriching activities they provide and, in particular, the valuable support they provide to critical worker parents and vulnerable children. That is why, in addition to ensuring that these settings can stay open for all children eligible to attend school for onsite provision, we have encouraged all local authorities to consider using local grants that have been made available to them during the COVID-19 outbreak, to support the wraparound childcare sector in their areas, to safeguard sufficient childcare provision for children of critical workers and vulnerable children.</p><p>This includes discretionary funding, such as the £594 million fund, provided by the government to local authorities to help them support local businesses affected by the new lockdown restrictions, as well funding streams such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme. The expanded programme, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities, will be expanded to reach all local authority areas over the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021. This is further to the wider financial support packages that the government has made available throughout the COVID-19 outbreak to support private businesses, which includes tax relief, business loans or cash grants through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and the Self-Employed Support Scheme (SEISS).</p><p>We have also made clear that schools should be continuing to offer before and after-school provision for those pupils eligible to attend for on-site provision, where it is feasible for them to do so; and have provided guidance for schools to support them to continue this provision. A copy of the guidance can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 28/01/2021 11:52:15 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson

1281777

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2021
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Extended Services: Coronavirus
	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 financial viability of out-of-school wraparound childcare providers that are not able to operate normally during the current covid-19 restrictions period; and whether he plans to offer them financial support.
	tabling member constituency	Sefton Central
	tabling member printed	Bill Esterson
	uin	145007
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Ensuring sufficient childcare for families continues to be a government priority. This is why we have ensured that wraparound childcare settings have been able to remain open for vulnerable children and children of critical workers during the current national lockdown, in line with those children eligible to attend school for onsite provision and have updated our guidance for providers of after-school and holiday clubs and other out-of-school settings to support providers to operate as safely as possible, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p>As indicated in the answer I gave on 28 January 2021 to Question <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-25/142909" target="_blank">142909</a>, the department does not hold a central register of wraparound providers, and so we are unable to make an accurate assessment of the financial viability of providers. However, we recognise that the wraparound childcare sector, like many sectors, is facing unprecedented financial pressures as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</p><p>Therefore, as explained previously, the government has made a range of financial packages of support available for businesses to access throughout the current crisis. This includes tax relief, business loans or cash grants through, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, as well as a £594 million discretionary fund for councils and the devolved administrations to support local businesses that may not be eligible for other support, during the current national lockdown.</p><p>We are also still encouraging all local authorities to consider using local grants that have been made available to them during the COVID-19 outbreak, to support the wraparound childcare sector in their areas, and to safeguard sufficient childcare provision for all families, but particularly those with vulnerable children and children of critical workers. This includes the expanded Holiday Activities and Food Programme mentioned in my previous answer to Question <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-25/142909" target="_blank">142909</a>, which comprises a £220 million fund to be delivered through grants to local authorities. This programme will give children eligible for free school meals the option to join a free holiday-time programme that provides healthy food and enriching activities during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 02/02/2021 12:32:29 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4061 label Biography information for Bill Esterson