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1236517

	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>The most recent figures for the number of pupils eligible for and claiming free school meals is based on the school census for January 2020. The number of children eligible for and claiming FSM in January 2020, by major ethnic group and for Vauxhall constituency, London and England, are provided in the attached table. Education and free school meal provision is a devolved responsibility, so figures for the United Kingdom are not available.</p><p>Further information can be found in the annual 'Schools, pupils and their characteristics' publication, available at:<br><a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 22/09/2020 16:54:48 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford attachment 1 file name 91750 table showing pupils from major ethnic groups eligible for free school meals in 2020.doc title 91750 Table Attachment

1195654

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Nurseries: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons maintained nursery schools are not eligible to claim (a) free school meal vouchers and (b) funding for exceptional costs associated with the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	46819
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <p>The government recognises that maintained nursery schools are an important part of the early years sector and provide valuable services, especially in disadvantaged areas.</p><p>We are committed to funding for maintained nursery schools in the longer term. Last October, we announced that maintained nursery schools would continue to receive supplementary funding for the whole of the financial year 2020-21 and this is unchanged by the COVID-19 outbreak, along with their funding for the usual early education entitlements through the dedicated schools grant. At the moment, our resources are focused on tackling the unprecedented challenges created by COVID-19. But resolving the long-term funding of maintained nursery schools is high on our list of priorities and we will return to it as soon as we are able. Any reform to the way maintained nursery schools are funded in the future will be accompanied by appropriate funding protections.</p><p>Unlike most state-funded schools, maintained nursery schools typically rely on private income for a significant proportion of their total income. Therefore, we have ensured that access to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is also available to maintained nursery schools, in line with the published guidance.</p><p>Maintained nursery schools can access the free school meal vouchers via Edenred.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 46760 question first answered 18/05/2020 16:50:21 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1198847

	registered interest
	date	01/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure that vulnerable children have access and contact with social workers during the covid-19 restrictions and (b) support teachers working in school who are the only point of contact outside the home for vulnerable children to maintain that contact.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	52594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2020 answer text <p>Our latest guidance on supporting vulnerable children is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people</a><em>.</em></p><p>We are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of vulnerable children and young people, particularly during the current period. This is why education settings remained open for these children and local authorities are maintaining contact with them.</p><p>Children’s social care guidance states that we expect local authorities and social workers to make judgements about visiting vulnerable children. Within the statutory framework, they should prioritise children’s welfare as paramount, balancing the risks to children, the risks to families and risks to the workforce. There are many ways to keep in touch with a child, young person or family without physical face-to-face contact and it is expected that these will be utilised appropriately and proportionately in response to the risk assessment undertaken for the child on a case by case basis. The guidance is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-authorities-on-childrens-social-care" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-authorities-on-childrens-social-care</a>.</p><p>To ensure children and young people can maintain contact with a social worker, we are providing laptops and tablets to children with a social worker who do not have access to a device otherwise, either privately or through school. We are also providing 4G wireless routers to children with a social worker at secondary school in order to support them to maintain contact with their social worker and/or access remote education at home.</p><p>The department’s safeguarding guidance sets out that a school’s child protection policy should be updated to reflect the arrangements in place to keep children not physically attending safe, especially online, and how concerns about these children should be progressed. In addition, the advice sets out that the Designated Safeguarding Lead (or deputy) should provide support to teachers and pastoral staff to ensure that contact is maintained with children (and their families) who are not yet returning to school. The guidance is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 09/06/2020 14:34:47 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1199763

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Free School Meals: Erith and Thamesmead
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support the families of pupils on free school meals during the school summer holidays in 2020 in Erith and Thamesmead constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	53658
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on 23 June 2020 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-06-03/54195/" target="_blank">54195</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 51893 53329 53409 53427 53439 53570 53579 53997 54032 54100 54228 55666 55678 55885 57324 57943 57944 58071 question first answered 25/06/2020 09:47:55 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1238230

	registered interest
	date	28/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children's Centres: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure that no children’s centres are closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	96212
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/10/2020 answer text <p>The decision on whether to keep Sure Start children’s centres open in response to the COVID-19 outbreak is a decision for local authorities to take.</p><p>Local authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act (2006) to ensure that there are sufficient children’s centres to meet the needs of local families, and a duty to consult where permanent changes are planned to local children’s centre provision. If a council decides to close a Sure Start children’s centre on a permanent basis, statutory guidance requires them to demonstrate that local children and families will not be adversely affected.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 06/10/2020 15:38:45 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1238231

	registered interest
	date	28/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with local authorities to ensure that children’s services are not adversely affected due to the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	96213
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2020 answer text <p>Ensuring that vulnerable children remain protected is a top priority for the government.</p><p>The department has been working closely with local authorities to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, setting up dedicated regional teams that are in frequent contact. Bringing together expertise from across the department, these teams monitor the challenges local authorities are facing. This includes any increases in demand and can provide support and guidance where appropriate.</p><p>We are also monitoring referrals to children’s services via our regional teams and via the Vulnerable Children and Young People survey, which collects data fortnightly from local authorities in England. As well as this, as part of a phased return to routine inspection, Ofsted are making assurance visits to children’s social care providers.</p><p>The government has provided an unprecedented package of support for vulnerable children, including:</p><ul><li>£3.7 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures, including in children’s services. This funding is un-ringfenced, recognising local authorities are best placed to decide how to meet the major COVID-19 service pressures in their local area.</li><li>£1.6 million of funding for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children to help promote and expand their national UK helpline which provides advice and guidance and support to adults reporting safeguarding concerns.</li><li>The Adoption Support Fund has £8 million to help families under pressure as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.</li><li>The Innovation Programme with more than £12 million for 14 projects tackling increased risk, including from domestic violence and supporting teenagers at risk of exploitation.</li><li>See, Hear, Respond is a £7 million partnership of national children’s charities and local organisations to provide targeted support to vulnerable children, young people and their families who are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.</li><li>Laptops and tablets for children with social workers and care leavers to help them keep in touch with the services they need, as well as 4G internet devices for connecting to the internet.</li><li>Continuing the Social Work Together programme to match social workers to employers bringing back 8,000 former social workers onto the professional register.</li></ul><p>We have also made temporary legislative changes to help reduce pressure on the system and enable children's services to continue to support vulnerable children during these unprecedented times.</p><p>Our latest guidance on supporting vulnerable children and young people during the COVID-19 outbreak is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 01/10/2020 16:04:54 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1238906

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Nurseries: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that safety measures introduced to nurseries re-opening as covid-19 lockdown restrictions were eased are (a) monitored and (b) maintained.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	97052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>The department has published the ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak' guidance, which is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures</a>.</p><p>This guidance is for local authorities and all early years providers in England. For reception, schools should, in the most part, refer to the guidance for schools during the COVID-19 outbreak, although some of the information in the early years guidance is relevant as well. The guidance for schools is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-schools-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p>Settings must comply with health and safety law, which requires them to assess risks and put in place proportionate control measures. Settings should thoroughly review their health and safety risk assessment and draw up plans as part of their wider opening. Settings should have active arrangements in place to monitor that the controls are effective, working as planned, and updated appropriately, for example when any issues are identified, or when there are changes in public health advice.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 05/10/2020 16:11:46 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1238907

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Nurseries: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of covid-19 risk posed to nursery workers who have returned to work since 1 June 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	97053
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>Keeping children and staff safe is the government’s utmost priority.</p><p>Settings must comply with health and safety law, which requires them to assess risks and put in place proportionate control measures. Public Health England is clear that the risk of transmission and infection is substantially reduced if nurseries and childminders implement the protective measures as set out in the ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak’ guidance. This guidance is available here:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures</a>.</p><p>Adults should minimise contact with each other while at work. However, in situations where social distancing between adults in settings is not possible (for example when moving around in corridors and communal areas), settings have the discretion to recommend the use of face coverings for adults on site, both staff and visitors.</p><p>We continue to keep this guidance under review as we learn more about COVID-19.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 05/10/2020 16:20:51 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1238908

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that covid-19 home testing kits are readily available in early years settings.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	97054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>All education and childcare workers currently have prioritised access to testing alongside other essential workers.</p><p>Ensuring access to tests for all education and childcare staff is a key priority for our department and we are currently considering how we can improve all early years settings’ access to testing.</p><p>Further guidance on testing can be found in the ‘Actions for early years and childcare providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’ guidance, which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 05/10/2020 16:14:41 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1239968

	registered interest
	date	02/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 1 October 2020 to Question 96213 on Children: Coronavirus, what contact the London regional team has had with the London borough of Bexley on the impact of covid-19 on children's services.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	98776
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Departmental officials are routinely in touch with local authorities to discuss the progress of their children’s services. We have been in contact with all local authorities in recent months, including the London Borough of Bexley, to understand how they are dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak, the impact on children’s services, and how the department can support them during this difficult period.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 07/10/2020 15:55:34 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare