It is up to local authorities to decide how to organise and commission services from children\u2019s centres in their areas. They are best placed to understand local needs and the different ways they can be supported locally. Local authorities must demonstrate that they have devised ways to ensure that services continue; what matters is the quality and impact of services, and how local needs are being supported.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are clear in statutory guidance that there is a presumption against closure, and local authorities have a duty to consult where changes are planned to local children\u2019s centre provision.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-10T13:19:23.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children's Centres"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to maintain the number of sure start centres in England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4477", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Harry Harpham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Harry Harpham"} ], "uin" : "1236"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348594", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348594/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Local authorities are responsible for planning and securing sufficient school places in their area, and supporting them in doing so is one of this government\u2019s top priorities.<\/p>
<\/p>
Basic need funding is allocated to local authorities to support them in their work creating new school places. We use data provided by authorities to ensure funding is targeted according to levels of need in each area. Torbay has received £6 million of basic need funding for 2011-15, helping to create 147 new school places by the end of the academic year 2014-15, with many more in the pipeline. The 2015-18 basic need funding allocation for Torbay is £10 million.<\/p>
<\/p>
The previous government published the first primary basic need scorecards to hold local authorities to account for the quality of the places they create. Torbay\u2019s scorecard showed that as of summer 2013, 94% of primary places were created in \u2018good\u2019 or \u2018outstanding\u2019 schools.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Timpson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crewe and Nantwich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Timpson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-11T11:11:13.5Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Schools: Torbay"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to the local council in Torbay to improve the supply and quality of local school places.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4451", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kevin Foster"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Torbay"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kevin Foster"} ], "uin" : "1109"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348600", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348600/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In July 2010, the previous Government launched a consultation on introducing a pupil premium. This identified potential indicators for distributing the pupil premium towards economically disadvantaged pupils. These included: current and historic Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility, an indicator based on a pupil\u2019s family being in receipt of out of work tax credits; and area-based measures of deprivation such as Mosaic or Acorn.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
In response to the consultation, it was concluded that the best available indicator used to reflect socio-economic disadvantage from 2011-12 onwards would be FSM eligibility, because this is the only current pupil-level indicator; it is familiar to parents, schools and local authorities; it is easily collected and updated annually; and schools will know precisely which of their pupils are eligible. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that pupils who are currently or have recently been eligible for FSM have lower educational outcomes than their peers. In 2011-12, the pupil premium was allocated to schools on the basis of pupils currently FSM eligible; and from April 2012 onwards on the basis of pupils who have been FSM eligible at any point in the last six years. The consultation response is available here: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/t/the%20school%20funding%20settlement%20for%202011%2012%20the%20pupil%20premium%20and%20dedicated%20schools%20grant.pdf<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3980", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Sam Gyimah"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Surrey"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Sam Gyimah"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-10T13:22:40.187Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupil Premium"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of using free school meal eligibility for the purposes of allocating Pupil Premium funding.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
], "uin" : "1129"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " All teachers are expected to meet the Teacher Standards, which require them to be able to \u2018manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment\u2019 and establish \u2018a safe and stimulating environment for students, rooted in mutual respect\u2019. Providers of initial teacher training, headteachers and teachers are best placed to determine the types of training and development that will help teachers to meet these standards.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Government is clear that there is no place for any form of bullying in our schools. To help schools tackle bullying the department has issued advice and case studies on preventing and tackling all forms of bullying, including online bullying. We have also issued advice on supporting bullied children\u2019s social, emotional and mental health, and separate advice for parents on how to spot signs that their child is being cyberbullied and what to do if it happens. This advice is published online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The department is providing £3.3 million this year to various anti-bullying charities to tackle all forms of bullying in school, on top of the £4 million provided in 2013-15. One of these charities, the National Children\u2019s Bureau, has produced cyberbullying advice for teachers on supporting pupils with a special educational need and/or disability and we link to this in our advice. Furthermore, the department has spent over £3.5 million on programmes to support teachers to deliver the new computing curriculum. Some of these programmes include e-safety content alongside developing teachers\u2019 knowledge and skills in computer science.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-12T10:18:02.657Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bullying: Internet"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what training is offered to teachers and educational providers providing support to young people in dealing with (a) cyber-bullying, (b) trolling, (c) sharing information online and (d) other social media issues.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1597", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Simpson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Upper Bann"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "David Simpson"}
], "uin" : "1154"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348612", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348612/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The legislation that the Department for Education is bringing forward in the Education and Adoption Bill relates to adoption. It will ensure that, once the decision is made that adoption is the best outcome for a child, children are found loving homes without delay. If local authorities wish to pursue other permanence services as well as adoption services, they have the freedom to do so.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Timpson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crewe and Nantwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Timpson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-10T15:58:56.277Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Foster Care"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the provisions of the Education and Adoption Bill will address the interests of children in fostering and other arrangements.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/298", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve McCabe"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Selly Oak"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Steve McCabe"}
], "uin" : "1161"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348625", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348625/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Education has developed comprehensive internal guidance on the Family Test and its application. The Department is confident in the approach it has taken to provide guidance and support to staff in applying the Family Test to new policies.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Timpson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crewe and Nantwich"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Edward Timpson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-06-10T16:02:46.167Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2015-06-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Education: Families"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister's press release of 18 August 2014, what steps she is taking to assess the impact of her Department's policies on the family.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1518", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Burrowes"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Enfield, Southgate"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr David Burrowes"}
], "uin" : "1193"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348254", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/348254/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Schools and colleges have an important role to play in supporting the wellbeing and mental health of their students.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> To help them do this effectively, we recently published a blueprint for school counselling services, which provides schools with practical, evidence-based advice informed by experts on how to deliver high-quality school based counselling. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416326/Counselling_in_schools_-240315.pdf<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> At the same time, the PSHE Association published guidance, funded by the Department for Education, on providing age-appropriate teaching about mental health problems. This guidance can be found at: https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/news_detail.aspx?ID=1435<\/a>. They will also be publishing a set of lesson plans spanning key stage 1 to key stage 4 which will be available for schools to use by September 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> We expect that schools will want to use these and other resources to develop the support that they provide. We will continue to work with the sector to look at what further information and support might be helpful.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>