My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education announced this week £6.5 million funding for voluntary and community sector organisations who work with families of young children to support early language development, helping to address and support concerns when they can have the most impact; and to improve the early years education of children with special educational needs and disabilities.<\/p>
The government set out, prior to Budget 2018, plans to spend £3.5 billion this year on our free early education entitlements. We provide 15 hours of free early education for disadvantaged two year-olds, with almost 750,000 benefitting since 2013, and we provide the Early Years Pupil Premium, which delivers up to £300 per eligible child per year to support better outcomes for disadvantaged three and four year olds. This is on top of the near universal take up of the free 15 hours entitlement for all three and four year-olds.<\/p>
Funding for the entitlements is also supported by a £100 million investment through our social mobility action plan \u2018Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential\u2019, published in December 2017.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-22T16:02:02.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pre-school Education: Social Mobility"} , "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 funding his Department has provided through Budget 2018 to ensure the inclusion of social mobility in early years education.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"} ], "uin" : "191390"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005980", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1005980/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) continues to liaise with the local authority and regional schools commissioner team to monitor improvements in key stage 4 provision in the borough and identify local need. The ESFA also meets regularly with SK College Group to discuss the college\u2019s offer of A level provision at their Knowsley campus. For 2018/19 academic year the college made 68 offers to study academic A levels at its Knowsley campus. Twelve learners progressed to enrol and attend at the college. However, due to low numbers it was financially unviable to deliver at the Knowsley Campus, so the learners access A Level provision on the St Helens Campus via bespoke transport.<\/p>
For 2019 the college has committed to continue to promote the development of A level provision at the Knowsley campus and this is being marketed in their prospectus for 2019/20. They now have in place specific branding alongside targeted promotional activities including: a 2019 school leaver prospectus distributed to all local schools, supermarkets, convenience shops, community centres, and libraries; an A level advert in the college adult course guide in December which is distributed to 65,000 local homes across Knowsley and surrounding Liverpool areas; digital ad vans promoting the A level offer prior to college open evenings; and planned and targeted social media campaigns, local press promotions and railing banners. Furthermore, there are specific A level events for local school career advisers and school liaison teams are working directly in feeder borough schools to promote the A level offer.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-19T16:28:08.877Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "GCE A-level: Knowsley"} , "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 recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that young people in Knowsley have access to study academic A-level courses within the borough boundaries.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/483", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Maria Eagle"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Garston and Halewood"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Maria Eagle"} ], "uin" : "190793"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006000", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006000/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department has had no discussions with Lancashire County Council with regards to their ban on halal and kosher meat in school meals. The government sets out required minimum standards for school food in the School Food Standards to ensure that children are served healthy, nutritious meals at school. The standards do not specify food requirements in terms of cultural and religious needs.<\/p>
Headteachers, governors and their caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies, which includes acting reasonably to provide choices that take account of cultural, religious and special dietary needs. Schools that choose to arrange their school meals through a local authority or another catering organisation may wish to take this into consideration. Schools may consider providing both halal and non-halal or kosher food each day, or ensuring that dishes are clearly labelled to allow pupils to select the appropriate choice.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T09:49:14.42Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "School Meals: Lancashire"} , "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 discussions his Department has had with Lancashire County Council on the Council's ban on halal and kosher meat in school meals.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/318", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Spellar"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Spellar"} ], "uin" : "190757"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006065", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006065/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We want to make sure that there is high quality, land-based provision serving Norfolk and Suffolk. Following the recent Ofsted inspection of Easton and Otley College, we will work with the college to consider its options and to ensure that learners have access to quality land-based provision in the locality.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-21T09:43:54.697Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Educational Institutions: Suffolk"} , "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 plans he has to support the continuation of an independent land-based skills college in Suffolk.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3932", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Dan Poulter"} ], "uin" : "190844"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006136", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006136/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are currently 38 colleges that are subject to a notice to improve for financial health.<\/p>
The published response to the insolvency consultation stated that, using data and assumptions available at that time, over the first ten years of the insolvency policy (commences April 2019), an additional 63 colleges could meet the current triggers for a notice.<\/p>
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published an Early Intervention and Prevention strategy, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/college-funding-early-intervention-and-prevention/early-intervention-strategy<\/a>. This strategy outlines how the ESFA works with colleges where data shows that they could be at risk of failure.<\/p> In addition, the ESFA is improving and increasing the financial information that it requests from colleges, which will be analysed by integrated expert teams, and is developing a strengthened approach to intervention and prevention approaches in advance of financial crisis.<\/p> The department is also updating improved guidance for college governors, due later this month, to highlight governors\u2019 fiduciary duties. They are in the process of appointing National Leaders of Governance to deliver sector-led support (alongside the National Leaders of Further Education). The Further Education Commissioner\u2019s team has also expanded coverage of \u2018diagnostic visits\u2019 to colleges, which also highlight potential issues in advance of crisis, and offer recommendations for support and improvement.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anne Milton"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Guildford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Anne Milton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-19T16:38:19.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Further Education: Finance"}
, "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 many colleges are currently subject to a notice to improve financial health; and how many are projected to be subject to such a notice in the next (a) five and (b) 10 years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4356", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Angela Rayner"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ashton-under-Lyne"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Angela Rayner"}
], "uin" : "190900"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006174", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1006174/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) produces analysis of long range trends in school spending. This average class funding figure is based on the underlying data from the IFS\u2019s 2017 report, converted into 2018-19 prices using the GDP deflator, which gives a per-pupil funding figure for primary schools of £4,891.41 in 2018-19. The full report is available here: https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/8937<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>