The Department has made no such assessment. Local returning officers can require a school to act as a polling station and may do so where no suitable alternative venue is available. It is often possible for schools to remain open in such circumstances, but whether to close is an operational decision for the headteacher. We expect headteachers to keep schools open whenever it is reasonable for them to do so.<\/p>
<\/p>
Where a headteacher decides to close a school on polling day, we expect them to take all necessary steps to minimise any damage to pupils' education. This may include making up the missed day later in the year, or combining the day with one of the five annual training days. We also expect schools to give as much notice as possible to parents of any school closures, including for local elections.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-19T16:18:23.2795971Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Polling Stations: Schools"} , "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 he has made of the effect of school closure for local elections on parents and children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/301", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Richard Burden"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Northfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Richard Burden"} ], "uin" : "200820"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61861", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61861/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation<\/a><\/p> There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.<\/p> The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation<\/a><\/p> We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report<\/a><\/p> The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "200733"}
, {"_value" : "200734"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-18T16:28:01.5031083Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Reading: Teaching Methods"}
, "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 assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Phonic Screening Check.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"}
], "uin" : "200732"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61862", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61862/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation<\/a><\/p> There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.<\/p> The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation<\/a><\/p> We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report<\/a><\/p> The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "200732"}
, {"_value" : "200734"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-18T16:28:01.6906024Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Reading: Teaching Methods"}
, "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, when the Government plans to evaluate the introduction of the Phonic Screening Check and take a decision on its continuation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"}
], "uin" : "200733"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61863", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61863/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Education is evaluating the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check through a three-year externally-commissioned independent evaluation, undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research. The evaluation is now in the final year. The first two reports have been published and can be found online:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-phonics-screening-check-first-interim-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-evaluation<\/a><\/p> There are no plans to discontinue the Phonics Screening Check.<\/p> The Department piloted the Phonics Screening Check in 300 primary schools in 2011, prior to national roll-out in 2012. The evaluation report on the pilot can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-1-phonics-screening-check-pilot-evaluation<\/a><\/p> We have also published annual technical reports evaluating the validity and reliability of the Check. The first of these reports was based on the pilot and can be found here:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-pilot-2011-technical-report<\/a><\/p> The technical reports since the national roll-out can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2012-technical-report<\/a> and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phonics-screening-check-2013-technical-report<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "200732"}
, {"_value" : "200733"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-18T16:28:01.9405971Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Reading: Teaching Methods"}
, "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 he will publish the information considered by his Department ahead of making the decision to introduce the Phonic Screening Check.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/308", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coventry South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Jim Cunningham"}
], "uin" : "200734"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61656", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61656/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Two parliamentary questions tabled to the Department for Education, PQs 198493 (tabled on 13/5/2014) and 198434 (tabled on 12/5/2014), did not receive substantive answers by the time of prorogation. The questions had reply on dates during prorogation, and therefore could not be answered due to the House's rules regarding notice periods.<\/p> <\/p> As a courtesy, both Members have been sent copies of the answers that they would have received had the Department been permitted to give the answers in the usual way.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-19T16:15:37.6292099Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Written Questions"}
, "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 parliamentary questions tabled to his Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1552", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison Seabeck"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Alison Seabeck"}
], "uin" : "200445"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61663", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61663/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have published a more rigorous curriculum for English and mathematics. The new national curriculum sets expectations that match those in the highest-performing education jurisdictions in the world, challenging pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market. It increases the level of demand from an early age, with greater emphasis on arithmetic, including learning times tables to 12 x 12 by age 9 and removing calculators from key stage 2 tests in mathematics, and on phonics, grammar and vocabulary development in English. GCSEs in English language and mathematics are also being reformed to be more challenging and give stronger guarantees of literacy and numeracy, with the mathematics GCSE in particular covering more than the current GCSE.<\/p> <\/p> We are confident that our reform to the national curriculum will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom, which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free-up teachers to use their professional judgement to provide support that best meets the needs of their pupils.<\/p> <\/p> We have invested in and reformed initial teacher training (ITT) to focus on attracting the very best graduates with the right qualities for teaching into the profession through making more scholarships available; using bursaries to attract more of the most talented graduates in key subjects such as maths and physics and supporting the expansion of the highly-successful Teach First programme. Teach First is now the largest graduate recruiter in any sector in the United Kingdom.<\/p> <\/p> In 2013/14, we recruited 96% of the overall number of trainees we set out to recruit and the proportion with first-class or 2:1 degrees has risen 3 percentage points (74%) \u2013 a record compared to last year (71%). We have raised the bar for entry into ITT by making skills tests tougher, limiting candidates to two re-sits and making passing the tests in literacy and numeracy a requirement before entering, rather than exiting, ITT.<\/p> <\/p> Sir Andrew Carter has been appointed to lead an independent review about the effectiveness of ITT. As part of this, the review will look at ITT courses for both primary and secondary teaching to consider how well trainees are equipped to become outstanding teachers.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4097", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Elizabeth Truss"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Norfolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Elizabeth Truss"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-19T16:27:54.2409837Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Education: Basic Skills"}
, "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 steps his Department has taken to ensure a high standard of teaching in numeracy and literacy.", "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" : "200344"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61666", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61666/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department for Education has not made an assessment of the effect of the current starting age for children entering primary education on the wellbeing and attainment of those born in the summer months.<\/p> However, research[1] carried out by the Department has demonstrated that the age at which tests are taken is the dominant reason for month of birth gaps in educational attainment, and not the age at which children start school; it is simply the fact of being younger when tested that accounts for most of the differences observed. The research reported no evidence of a causal relationship between school entry age and attainment.<\/p> Parents of summer born children who think their child is not ready to start school can request that their child is admitted outside of their normal age group and be admitted to reception year in the September following their fifth birthday. The school's admission authority is responsible for making the decision which must be based on the individual circumstance of each case.<\/p>