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1712697
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Universities: Overseas Students more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential financial impact of trends in the level of enrolments of international students on universities. more like this
tabling member constituency Central Ayrshire more like this
tabling member printed
Dr Philippa Whitford more like this
uin 22962 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-05-01more like thismore than 2024-05-01
answer text <p>The government seeks to ensure that there is a fair and robust migration policy, whilst maintaining the UK’s place as a top destination for the best and brightest students from around the world. The department remains committed to the ambitions set out in the government’s International Education Strategy to host 600,000 international students per year and to increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year, both by 2030.</p><p>The department expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. The UK has four universities in the top ten, and 17 in the top 100, worldwide. The UK has a highly sought after higher education (HE) experience, which is respected by students across the globe. The department is hugely proud to have met its international student recruitment ambition two years running.</p><p>However, the level of legal migration remains too high. As a result, on 4 December 2023, the government announced a new package of measures to reduce net migration and curb abuse and exploitation of the country’s immigration system.</p><p>The Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of the HE sector in England, continues to work closely with the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, and other governmental departments to assess the impact of these changes on HE providers.</p><p>Universities are autonomous institutions responsible for managing their own budgets. The department also works closely with the OfS to understand the evolving landscape, including on risks relating to international students.</p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Luke Hall more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-05-01T14:24:07.68Zmore like thismore than 2024-05-01T14:24:07.68Z
answering member
4450
label Biography information for Luke Hall more like this
tabling member
4385
label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford more like this
1712773
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Teachers: Warwick and Leamington more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of trends in the number of teachers in Warwick and Leamington constituency. more like this
tabling member constituency Warwick and Leamington more like this
tabling member printed
Matt Western more like this
uin 23006 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>Information on the school workforce, including the number of teachers in each school, is published in the ‘School workforce in England’ statistical publication, which is available here: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england</a>.</p><p>As of November 2022, which is the latest data available, there were over 468,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers in state-funded schools in England, an increase of 27,000 (6%) since 2010. This is the highest number of FTE teachers since the school workforce census began in 2010.</p><p>As of November 2019, there were 609.9 FTE teachers in state-funded schools in Warwick and Leamington constituency. This increased to 651.2 FTE teachers in state-funded schools in Warwick and Leamington constituency in November 2022. Figures for November 2023 will be published in June 2024. School workforce figures for 2024 have not yet been collected.</p>
answering member constituency East Hampshire more like this
answering member printed Damian Hinds more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T11:19:18.567Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T11:19:18.567Z
answering member
3969
label Biography information for Damian Hinds more like this
tabling member
4617
label Biography information for Matt Western more like this
1712836
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Childcare: Costs more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that the cost of childcare is affordable for single parent families. more like this
tabling member constituency York Central more like this
tabling member printed
Rachael Maskell more like this
uin 22982 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-30more like thismore than 2024-04-30
answer text <p>The department is providing over £4.1 billion by the 2027/28 financial year to fund 30 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks per year) for working parents with children aged 9 months to 3 years in England. This will remove one of the biggest barriers to parents working by vastly increasing the amount of free childcare that working families can access. This is set to save working families using the full 30 funded hours up to £6,900 per year from when their child is nine months until they are five years old by September next year.</p><p>Already, hundreds of thousands of children aged 3 and 4 are registered for a 30-hour place, which can save eligible working parents up to £6,000 per child per year. Expanding this entitlement will help even more eligible working parents with the cost of childcare and make a real difference to the lives of those families.</p><p>To be eligible for the expanded 30 hours entitlement, as with the current 30 hours offer, parents will need to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum wage or living wage (£183 per week/ £9,518 per year in 2024/2025), and less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year. For families with two parents, both must be working to meet the criteria, unless one is receiving certain benefits. In a single-parent household, the single parent must meet the threshold. This offer aims to support parents to return to work or to work more hours if they wish.</p><p>In addition to the expanded entitlements, the government has also taken action to support parents on Universal Credit with childcare costs upfront when they need it, rather than in arrears. The department has increased support for these parents by increasing the childcare cost maximum amounts to £950 for one child and £1630 for two children.</p><p>Tax-Free Childcare remains available for working parents of children aged 0 to 11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children. This can save parents up to £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 for eligible children with disabilities and has the same income criteria as 30 hours free childcare.</p><p>The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare and government funding schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support families’ different situations.</p><p>For the 2024/25 financial year, the department’s funding rates for the York local authority will be £10.30 per hour for under 2s, £7.59 per hour for the 2 year old entitlements and £5.20 per hour for 3 and 4 year olds.</p><p>The government is also investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme. The government’s ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it to be able to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Parents will still be expected to pay to access this provision, but support will be available to eligible parents through Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare.</p><p>Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026. The department is also providing over £200 million a year for the continuation of the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the department is investing a transformational £560 million in youth services in England over the next 3 years. This is part of a wider package the government has provided long term, to support young people facing the greatest challenges.</p><p>The department will also continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places across the sector. The department’s Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey shows that both the number of places available and the workforce has increased since 2022.</p><p>Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.</p><p>The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.</p>
answering member constituency Wantage more like this
answering member printed David Johnston more like this
grouped question UIN 22983 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-30T16:42:36.783Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-30T16:42:36.783Z
answering member
4761
label Biography information for David Johnston more like this
tabling member
4471
label Biography information for Rachael Maskell more like this
1712839
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Childcare: Lone Parents more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the availability of flexible childcare for single parent families. more like this
tabling member constituency York Central more like this
tabling member printed
Rachael Maskell more like this
uin 22983 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-30more like thismore than 2024-04-30
answer text <p>The department is providing over £4.1 billion by the 2027/28 financial year to fund 30 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks per year) for working parents with children aged 9 months to 3 years in England. This will remove one of the biggest barriers to parents working by vastly increasing the amount of free childcare that working families can access. This is set to save working families using the full 30 funded hours up to £6,900 per year from when their child is nine months until they are five years old by September next year.</p><p>Already, hundreds of thousands of children aged 3 and 4 are registered for a 30-hour place, which can save eligible working parents up to £6,000 per child per year. Expanding this entitlement will help even more eligible working parents with the cost of childcare and make a real difference to the lives of those families.</p><p>To be eligible for the expanded 30 hours entitlement, as with the current 30 hours offer, parents will need to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum wage or living wage (£183 per week/ £9,518 per year in 2024/2025), and less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year. For families with two parents, both must be working to meet the criteria, unless one is receiving certain benefits. In a single-parent household, the single parent must meet the threshold. This offer aims to support parents to return to work or to work more hours if they wish.</p><p>In addition to the expanded entitlements, the government has also taken action to support parents on Universal Credit with childcare costs upfront when they need it, rather than in arrears. The department has increased support for these parents by increasing the childcare cost maximum amounts to £950 for one child and £1630 for two children.</p><p>Tax-Free Childcare remains available for working parents of children aged 0 to 11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children. This can save parents up to £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 for eligible children with disabilities and has the same income criteria as 30 hours free childcare.</p><p>The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare and government funding schemes are designed to be flexible enough to support families’ different situations.</p><p>For the 2024/25 financial year, the department’s funding rates for the York local authority will be £10.30 per hour for under 2s, £7.59 per hour for the 2 year old entitlements and £5.20 per hour for 3 and 4 year olds.</p><p>The government is also investing £289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme. The government’s ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it to be able to access childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Parents will still be expected to pay to access this provision, but support will be available to eligible parents through Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare.</p><p>Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026. The department is also providing over £200 million a year for the continuation of the Holiday Activities and Food programme and the department is investing a transformational £560 million in youth services in England over the next 3 years. This is part of a wider package the government has provided long term, to support young people facing the greatest challenges.</p><p>The department will also continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places across the sector. The department’s Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey shows that both the number of places available and the workforce has increased since 2022.</p><p>Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.</p><p>The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.</p>
answering member constituency Wantage more like this
answering member printed David Johnston more like this
grouped question UIN 22982 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-30T16:42:36.83Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-30T16:42:36.83Z
answering member
4761
label Biography information for David Johnston more like this
tabling member
4471
label Biography information for Rachael Maskell more like this
1712871
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-22more like thismore than 2024-04-22
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Higher Education: Greater Manchester more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on the accessibility of higher education for students in Greater Manchester. more like this
tabling member constituency Stockport more like this
tabling member printed
Navendu Mishra more like this
uin 23060 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-30more like thismore than 2024-04-30
answer text <p>The government publishes an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) is each year to analyse the impact of changes to higher education (HE) student support in England on students with protected characteristics and those from low-income families. The EIA for the 2024/25 academic year was published on GOV.UK on 26 January 2024 and is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-student-finance-2024-to-2025-equality-analysis" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-student-finance-2024-to-2025-equality-analysis</a>.</p><p>The department has continued to increase maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for undergraduate and postgraduate students each year with a 2.8% increase for the current academic year, 2023/24, and a further 2.5% increase announced for 2024/25.</p><p>In addition, the department has frozen maximum tuition fees for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By 2024/25, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven successive years. The department believes that the current fee freeze achieves the best balance between ensuring that the system remains financially sustainable, offering good value for the taxpayer, and reducing debt levels for students in real terms.</p><p>The government understands the pressures people have been facing with the cost of living and has taken action to help. The department has already made £276 million of student premium and mental health funding available for the 2023/24 academic year to support successful outcomes for students including disadvantaged students.</p><p>The department has also made a further £10 million of one-off support available to support student mental health and hardship funding for 2023/24. This funding will complement the help universities are providing through their own bursary, scholarship and hardship support schemes. For this financial year, 2024/25, the department has increased the Student Premium (full-time, part-time, and disabled premium) by £5 million to reflect high demand for hardship support. Further details of this allocation for the academic year 2024/25 will be announced by the Office for Students (OfS) in the summer.</p><p>Overall, support to households to help with the high cost of living is worth £108 billion over 2022/23 to 2024/25, an average of £3,800 per UK household. The government believes this will have eased the pressure on family budgets and so will in turn enable many families to provide additional support to their children in HE to help them meet increased living costs.</p><p>English domiciled 18 year olds from the most disadvantaged areas are now 74% more likely to enter HE than they were in 2010, and the department is working to close the disadvantage gap with our access and participation reforms.</p><p>The department has tasked the OfS to include support for disadvantaged students before entry to HE in new access and participation plans. Providers should be working meaningfully with schools to ensure that pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged and supported to achieve the highest possible grades and follow the path that is best for them, whether that be an apprenticeship or higher technical qualification, or a course at another university.</p>
answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate more like this
answering member printed Luke Hall more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-30T13:51:57.92Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-30T13:51:57.92Z
answering member
4450
label Biography information for Luke Hall more like this
tabling member
4811
label Biography information for Navendu Mishra more like this
1702411
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-19more like thismore than 2024-04-19
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Schools: Equality and Religious Freedom more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to schools on balancing inclusivity and religious freedoms. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
uin 22795 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>There is currently no legal requirement for schools to allow their pupils time within the school day to pray upon request, nor are they required to provide any pupil with a physical space, such as a prayer room, to conduct their prayers. It is a matter for individual schools and headteachers to make a decision that is in the interest of their pupils. It is important when considering any requests relating to prayer that they do so in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and their public sector equality duty.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act, including religion or belief. State-funded schools are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). All children and young people must be treated fairly and supported to thrive and reach their potential within a respectful environment.</p><p> </p><p>The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools</a>. This includes specific advice on religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The PSED was introduced in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and places a legal obligation on public authorities to consider how their policy or service decisions impacts differently on individuals. The department as a public body is required to give due regard to PSED in its decision making. According to the PSED, a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:</p><ul><li>Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.</li><li>Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.</li><li>Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Protected characteristics include religion or belief.</li></ul>
answering member constituency East Hampshire more like this
answering member printed Damian Hinds more like this
grouped question UIN
22796 more like this
22797 more like this
22798 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.19Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.19Z
answering member
3969
label Biography information for Damian Hinds more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
1702412
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-19more like thismore than 2024-04-19
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Schools: Religious Practice more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to non-religious schools on enforcing policies that restrict (a) prayer and (b) other religious practices. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
uin 22796 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>There is currently no legal requirement for schools to allow their pupils time within the school day to pray upon request, nor are they required to provide any pupil with a physical space, such as a prayer room, to conduct their prayers. It is a matter for individual schools and headteachers to make a decision that is in the interest of their pupils. It is important when considering any requests relating to prayer that they do so in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and their public sector equality duty.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act, including religion or belief. State-funded schools are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). All children and young people must be treated fairly and supported to thrive and reach their potential within a respectful environment.</p><p> </p><p>The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools</a>. This includes specific advice on religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The PSED was introduced in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and places a legal obligation on public authorities to consider how their policy or service decisions impacts differently on individuals. The department as a public body is required to give due regard to PSED in its decision making. According to the PSED, a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:</p><ul><li>Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.</li><li>Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.</li><li>Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Protected characteristics include religion or belief.</li></ul>
answering member constituency East Hampshire more like this
answering member printed Damian Hinds more like this
grouped question UIN
22795 more like this
22797 more like this
22798 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.253Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.253Z
answering member
3969
label Biography information for Damian Hinds more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
1702413
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-19more like thismore than 2024-04-19
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Schools: Discrimination more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) monitor and (b) tackle potential discrimination in schools against students based on their religious practices. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
uin 22797 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>There is currently no legal requirement for schools to allow their pupils time within the school day to pray upon request, nor are they required to provide any pupil with a physical space, such as a prayer room, to conduct their prayers. It is a matter for individual schools and headteachers to make a decision that is in the interest of their pupils. It is important when considering any requests relating to prayer that they do so in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and their public sector equality duty.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act, including religion or belief. State-funded schools are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). All children and young people must be treated fairly and supported to thrive and reach their potential within a respectful environment.</p><p> </p><p>The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools</a>. This includes specific advice on religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The PSED was introduced in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and places a legal obligation on public authorities to consider how their policy or service decisions impacts differently on individuals. The department as a public body is required to give due regard to PSED in its decision making. According to the PSED, a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:</p><ul><li>Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.</li><li>Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.</li><li>Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Protected characteristics include religion or belief.</li></ul>
answering member constituency East Hampshire more like this
answering member printed Damian Hinds more like this
grouped question UIN
22795 more like this
22796 more like this
22798 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.287Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.287Z
answering member
3969
label Biography information for Damian Hinds more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
1702414
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-19more like thismore than 2024-04-19
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Schools: Equality and Religious Practice more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of school policies on (a) religious practices and (b) inclusivity. more like this
tabling member constituency Slough more like this
tabling member printed
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
uin 22798 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>There is currently no legal requirement for schools to allow their pupils time within the school day to pray upon request, nor are they required to provide any pupil with a physical space, such as a prayer room, to conduct their prayers. It is a matter for individual schools and headteachers to make a decision that is in the interest of their pupils. It is important when considering any requests relating to prayer that they do so in the context of the Equality Act 2010, and their public sector equality duty.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 schools must not discriminate against a pupil in a number of respects because of a characteristic protected by the Act, including religion or belief. State-funded schools are also subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). All children and young people must be treated fairly and supported to thrive and reach their potential within a respectful environment.</p><p> </p><p>The department has published guidance for schools on how to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found online at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools</a>. This includes specific advice on religion or belief.</p><p> </p><p>The PSED was introduced in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 and places a legal obligation on public authorities to consider how their policy or service decisions impacts differently on individuals. The department as a public body is required to give due regard to PSED in its decision making. According to the PSED, a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, have due regard to the need to:</p><ul><li>Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under this Act.</li><li>Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.</li><li>Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. Protected characteristics include religion or belief.</li></ul>
answering member constituency East Hampshire more like this
answering member printed Damian Hinds more like this
grouped question UIN
22795 more like this
22796 more like this
22797 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.333Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:07:14.333Z
answering member
3969
label Biography information for Damian Hinds more like this
tabling member
4638
label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi more like this
1702507
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2024-04-19more like thismore than 2024-04-19
answering body
Department for Education remove filter
answering dept id 60 more like this
answering dept short name Education more like this
answering dept sort name Education more like this
hansard heading Children: Social Services more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's consultation outcome entitled Children's social care: stable homes, built on love, published on 21 September 2023, what steps she is taking to monitor the implementation of the recommendations of that consultation by local authorities. more like this
tabling member constituency York Central more like this
tabling member printed
Rachael Maskell more like this
uin 22762 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2024-04-29more like thismore than 2024-04-29
answer text <p>The department is committed to laying the foundations for a comprehensive and long-term reform plan to children’s social care over the two years immediately following the publication of its implementation strategy ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’. The department will be refreshing its strategy at the end of this point. The department is halfway through this first phase of reform, and has made significant progress on many of the commitments made in the strategy.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2023, the department published the first national kinship care strategy ‘Championing Kinship Care’, a ‘Children’s Social Care National Framework’, a revised statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’ and a data strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Through these publications, the department is monitoring the implementation of its reform programme and has set out how local authorities’ and partners’ roles and responsibilities will change through new national expectations, and further explained their role in delivering ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’.</p><p> </p><p>The ‘test and learn’ approach the department is taking through its pathfinder pilots will ensure that the department will find the most efficient models of delivery, providing the best possible outcomes for children and families. When the department comes to expand and roll out programmes across more local authorities’ areas, it wants to ensure reform delivery is supported by the evidence that it works.</p>
answering member constituency Wantage more like this
answering member printed David Johnston more like this
grouped question UIN 22763 more like this
question first answered
less than 2024-04-29T10:17:06.537Zmore like thismore than 2024-04-29T10:17:06.537Z
answering member
4761
label Biography information for David Johnston more like this
tabling member
4471
label Biography information for Rachael Maskell more like this