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1659231

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what are the (1) mean, and (2) median, amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9966
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9967 HL9968 HL9969 HL9970 HL9971 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659232

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many safeguarding concerns have been recorded regarding unregistered alternative providers in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9967
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9966 HL9968 HL9969 HL9970 HL9971 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659233

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any minimum standards for an unregistered alternative provider which provides education placements for school-aged pupils to operate in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9968
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9966 HL9967 HL9969 HL9970 HL9971 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659234

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any safeguarding checks or requirements for an unregistered alternative provider that provides education placements for school-aged pupils in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9966 HL9967 HL9968 HL9970 HL9971 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659235

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how often Ofsted inspect unregistered alternative providers that provides education placements for school-aged pupils in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9966 HL9967 HL9968 HL9969 HL9971 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659236

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Out-of-School Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether schools or local authorities that commission unregistered alternative providers require checks on the proprietor and staff before placing pupils in their care.
tabling member printed	Baroness Blower
uin	HL9971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold information about the mean and median amounts spent by a school or local authority on an unregistered alternative provider place in England for (a) pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, (b) pupils classified as a Child In Need, (c) Pupil Premium Pupils, and (d) pupils excluded from school. Commissioning arrangements are managed directly by schools and local authorities who require the provision, and they do not report their expenditure at the level of detail requested.</p><p>The department also does not routinely collect data on the number of safeguarding concerns that have taken place in unregistered APs. Commissioners are responsible for the AP they use and ensuring that it is safe.</p><p>The Alternative Provision (AP) statutory guidance is clear that AP, including unregistered AP, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. The guidance can be found in the attached document. Responsibility for the AP used rests with the commissioner. The nature of the intervention, its objectives and the timeline to achieve these objectives should be agreed and clearly defined.</p><p>Some local authorities or partnerships of schools have developed a local directory of ‘approved’ provision, which meets clearly defined standards, including registration where necessary, safeguarding, health and safety, quality of accommodation, quality of education etc. These lists, where they exist, can provide a helpful starting point. However, prior to placement, commissioners should still assess whether the provision offers high quality education and is suitable for the pupil’s individual needs.</p><p>‘Keeping children safe in education’ is statutory guidance to which all schools and colleges must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, and can be found in the attached document. The guidance states that where a school places a pupil in AP, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the AP that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment, for example, those checks that the school would otherwise perform in respect of its own staff.</p><p>Ofsted does not inspect individual unregistered AP settings unless they are part of a criminal investigation where there are concerns that the provider may be operating illegally as an independent school. Any provider of AP must be registered as an independent school if it caters full time for five or more pupils of compulsory school age, or one pupil who is looked after or has an education, health and care plan. Under Section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008, the Unregistered Schools Team does not inspect the quality of the provision or the safeguarding arrangements.</p><p>The School Inspection Handbook states that during school inspections, inspectors will evaluate how well a school continues to take responsibility for its pupils who attend AP, including in unregistered AP. The Handbook can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-inspection-handbook-eif/school-inspection-handbook-for-september-2023</a>. Inspectors will normally visit a sample of any part-time unregistered AP during the inspection. This is to assess the adequacy of the school’s quality assurance process. A school is likely to be judged inadequate for leadership and management if it is making ineffective or inappropriate use of AP, failing to ensure the suitability of a provision, being unaware of the number of their pupils attending AP or not taking responsibility for their pupils who attend AP.</p><p>From January 2023, Ofsted is inspecting the local authority commissioning of AP as part of Area Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) inspections. The Area SEND inspection Handbook states that in doing so inspectors will consider whether the local authority’s use of unregistered and online provision is lawful and appropriate to children and young people’s needs. The Handbook can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/area-send-framework-and-handbook/area-send-inspections-framework-and-handbook</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL9966 et al_alternative_provision_statutory_guidance_accessible.pdf title HL9966_AP_guidance 2 file name HL9966 et al _Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2023.pdf title HL9966_Keeping_children_Safe_guidance grouped question UIN HL9966 HL9967 HL9968 HL9969 HL9970 question first answered 25/09/2023 14:19:14 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4724 label Biography information for Baroness Blower

1659242

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Education: Parents
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many parents of children under four years of age are in full time education or training.
tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Ladyton
uin	HL9977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold the data on the number of parents of children under four years of age that are in full time education or training.</p><p>In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p><p>The announcement included the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer, through which eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school. The key objective of this measure is to support parental participation in the labour market, which is why the offer is conditional on work.</p><p>All students, who work in addition to their studies and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage, and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year, will be eligible for this offer. If they are unable to meet this threshold, they will remain eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education, which is available to all 3- and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances.</p><p>The department recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in further or higher education (HE) to support them with childcare.</p><p>Eligible undergraduate students attending full-time HE courses qualify for fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition and partially means-tested loans as a contribution towards their living costs.</p><p>Additional support is provided for full-time students with dependent children. This support includes the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance which are based on a student’s household income.</p><p>The Childcare Grant is available for parents in HE undertaking a full-time undergraduate course and is paid to help with weekly childcare costs. The amount of childcare grant payable in 2023/24 will be based on 85% of actual childcare costs, subject to a maximum grant of £188.90 per week for one child only or £323.85 per week for two or more children. The Parents’ Learning Allowance is for full-time undergraduate students with one or more dependent children. For the 2023/24 academic year, students could receive up to £1,915 a year depending on household income. Students whose household incomes are £39,796 or less qualify for the full Childcare Grant and Parents Learning Allowance applied for.</p><p>In addition to the standard student support package set out above, eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students receive a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year. Eligible students with child dependants can also access a further £2,000 per academic year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL9978 question first answered 21/09/2023 16:14:08 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	620 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Ladyton

1659243

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare: Costs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of providing 30 hours of free childcare each week to children aged between 9 months and 4 years, with one or both parents in full-time education or training.
tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Ladyton
uin	HL9978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold the data on the number of parents of children under four years of age that are in full time education or training.</p><p>In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, the government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p><p>The announcement included the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer, through which eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school. The key objective of this measure is to support parental participation in the labour market, which is why the offer is conditional on work.</p><p>All students, who work in addition to their studies and earn the equivalent of at least 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage, and under £100,000 adjusted net income per year, will be eligible for this offer. If they are unable to meet this threshold, they will remain eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education, which is available to all 3- and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances.</p><p>The department recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in further or higher education (HE) to support them with childcare.</p><p>Eligible undergraduate students attending full-time HE courses qualify for fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition and partially means-tested loans as a contribution towards their living costs.</p><p>Additional support is provided for full-time students with dependent children. This support includes the Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance which are based on a student’s household income.</p><p>The Childcare Grant is available for parents in HE undertaking a full-time undergraduate course and is paid to help with weekly childcare costs. The amount of childcare grant payable in 2023/24 will be based on 85% of actual childcare costs, subject to a maximum grant of £188.90 per week for one child only or £323.85 per week for two or more children. The Parents’ Learning Allowance is for full-time undergraduate students with one or more dependent children. For the 2023/24 academic year, students could receive up to £1,915 a year depending on household income. Students whose household incomes are £39,796 or less qualify for the full Childcare Grant and Parents Learning Allowance applied for.</p><p>In addition to the standard student support package set out above, eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students receive a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year. Eligible students with child dependants can also access a further £2,000 per academic year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL9977 question first answered 21/09/2023 16:14:08 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	620 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Ladyton

1659244

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Department for Education: Resignations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants have resigned from the team responsible for capital spending in the Department for Education in each year for the past five years.
tabling member printed	Lord Browne of Ladyton
uin	HL9979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2023 answer text <p>The information is not held in the format requested.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 03/10/2023 11:20:02 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	620 label Biography information for Lord Browne of Ladyton

1659263

registered interest
date	07/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Stationery and Uniforms
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support parents with back-to-school costs, including (1) uniform, and (2) stationery.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL9998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2023 answer text <p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has provided £94 billion to support households with higher costs across 2022/23 and 2023/24.</p><p>Additional cost of living payments of up to £900 will be made in 2023/24 to households on means tested benefits.</p><p>The government is investing up to £30 million in the National School Breakfast Programme until the end of the summer term in 2024. This funding will support up to 2,700 schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low-income families will be offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing, and readiness to learn.</p><p>Rather than subsiding expensive uniform policies with financial assistance, the department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform to ensure uniform is affordable for all families. The guidance came into force in September 2022 and is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms/cost-of-school-uniforms</a>.</p><p>Schools must be mindful of this guidance when designing and implementing their uniform policy. The guidance requires schools to ensure that their uniform is affordable and secures best value for money for parents.</p><p>There is no specific funding for schools to support families to meet the costs of school uniform, but schools may offer additional support in cases of financial hardship where they choose to do so.</p><p>No specific support is provided for the purchase of stationery.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 25/09/2023 14:21:03 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans