The government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and giving every child the best start in life.<\/p>
The department will be providing over 3 million holiday clubs places this summer and these places will support children from disadvantaged backgrounds to access free healthy meals and enriching activities.<\/p>
The department will also be providing over 500,000 holiday places over Christmas to ensure children get access to food through the school holidays and to the activities benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning that we know make such a difference.<\/p>
Funding beyond the end of March 2025 is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-25T10:28:11.783Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Holiday Activities and Food Programme"} , "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 extend the Holiday Activities Fund.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "972"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722109", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1722109/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is committed to making quick progress to deliver on its commitment to offer breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity by ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and set-up to achieve by providing a supportive start to the day.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The government has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King\u2019s Speech that, under the Children\u2019s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with schools to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4653", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Morgan"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Morgan"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-25T11:13:45.547Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Breakfast Clubs"} , "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 her Department is taking to introduce breakfast clubs in every school; and what her planned timescale is for the introduction of breakfast clubs in every school.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"} ], "uin" : "626"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721297", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721297/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department is committed to working in partnership with local government to support children in care, whether they are being looked after by their community of wider kinship care, foster carers and adoptive parents, or being cared for in children\u2019s homes, if this is the best place for them to be. The department recognises many challenges kinship cares experience, including the financial challenges that many kinship carers face. The government is considering how to most effectively transform the children\u2019s social care system so that it can deliver better support and outcomes for children and families. This will include considering how best to support kinship carers and children in kinship care.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4698", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Janet Daby"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Janet Daby"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "49"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T16:21:37.367Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Carers: Social Security Benefits"} , "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 an assessment of the potential merits of providing a financial allowance to kinship carers equal to that received by foster carers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "48"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721298", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721298/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department is committed to working in partnership with local government to support children in care, whether they are being looked after by their community of wider kinship care, foster carers and adoptive parents, or being cared for in children\u2019s homes, if this is the best place for them to be. The department recognises many challenges kinship cares experience, including the financial challenges that many kinship carers face. The government is considering how to most effectively transform the children\u2019s social care system so that it can deliver better support and outcomes for children and families. This will include considering how best to support kinship carers and children in kinship care.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4698", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Janet Daby"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lewisham East"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Janet Daby"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "48"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T16:21:37.397Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Carers: Social Security Benefits"} , "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 her Department's policy is on the potential merits of trialling a kinship care allowance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "49"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721305", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721305/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The capacity of state-funded schools as at May 2023 is published in the annual school capacity official statistics publication and is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity<\/a>. The data is available at local authority level and by phase (primary and secondary).<\/p> <\/p> Pupil numbers up to age 16 are published in the \u2018Schools, pupils and their characteristics\u2019 official statistics publication and are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics<\/a>. The data is available by local authority, age and school type. Please note that statistics from the school census are on the base of age, rather than key stage.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-25T11:06:56.793Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupils"}
, "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 an estimate of the (a) (i) capacity of and (ii) number of pupils up to the end of Key Stage 4 enrolled in state-funded schools and (b) number of pupils up to the end of Key Stage 4 enrolled in independent schools, broken down by (A) local authority and (B) Key Stage in the latest period for which data is available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3969", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Damian Hinds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Hampshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Damian Hinds"}
], "uin" : "45"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721329", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721329/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, will not make it her policy to reject the application by Reach South Academy Trust to close Parkfield School.<\/p> <\/p> Upon reviewing officials\u2019 advice around this school closing, the department agrees that closing the school is in the best interests of children and young people and their education in this case.<\/p> <\/p> Parkfield School will be closing by mutual agreement with the Academy trust.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T16:05:05.747Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Parkfield School Christchurch"}
, "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 reject the application by Reach South Academy Trust to close Parkfield School.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/242", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Christchurch"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Christopher Chope"}
], "uin" : "10"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721368", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721368/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This government has committed to remove barriers to opportunity and raise school standards to ensure the school system is enabling every child to thrive, no matter their background.<\/p> <\/p> The government is clear strong accountability is non-negotiable. That is why the government has committed to bring Multi-Academy Trusts into the inspection system, to make the system fairer and more transparent, and enable intervention when schools and trusts are not performing to the required standards.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T11:10:12.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Multi-academy Trusts: Regulation"}
, "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 review the (a) governance and (b) accountability structures of multi academy trusts.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
], "uin" : "93"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721369", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721369/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The department will take time to consider the various funding formulae that the department and local authorities use to allocate funding for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It is important that there is a fair education funding system, that directs funding to where it is needed.<\/p> <\/p> Budgets for the 2025/26 financial year have not yet been set which means that decisions on the high needs and schools national funding formulae as well as the publication of allocations for that year will not be to the usual timescales.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4125", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine McKinnell"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Catherine McKinnell"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-07-22T15:22:58.447Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "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, if she will take steps to establish a fair funding formula for (a) SEND and (b) education.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4471", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Rachael Maskell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Rachael Maskell"}
], "uin" : "94"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721504", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1721504/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The full-time equivalent (FTE) of support staff has increased each year since the 2019/20 academic year, to 510,400 in 2023/24, and has now passed the previous peak of 2015/16. This is an increase of 4,800 (0.9%) since last year. This increase is mainly due to the addition of 2,400 in other support staff.<\/p> Support staff are categorised into posts of teaching assistants, administrative staff, auxiliary staff, technicians and other supporting staff, plus two new posts of school business professional and leadership non-teacher reported for the first time in 2023/24.<\/p> School business professionals include roles such as bursar, business manager, finance officer, office manager, premises manager or ICT network manager.<\/p> Data relating to the FTE of all support staff can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/7b0a17e8-b3ff-403e-687f-08dca70c1109<\/a>.<\/p>