SEN Providers: Rural Areas Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) (Con)
1. If her Department will provide additional financial support to
special educational needs providers in rural areas. The Secretary
of State for Education (Gillian Keegan) I pay tribute to the life
of the noble Baroness Boothroyd, who has sadly passed away. As the
first and only woman Speaker, she blazed a trail for women, showing
us that a woman’s place is not only in the House of Commons but at
the...Request free trial
SEN Providers: Rural Areas
(Rutland and Melton)
(Con)
1. If her Department will provide additional financial support to
special educational needs providers in rural areas.
The Secretary of State for Education ()
I pay tribute to the life of the noble , who has sadly passed
away. As the first and only woman Speaker, she blazed a trail for
women, showing us that a woman’s place is not only in the House
of Commons but at the top. Her legacy will live on and long be
remembered in this place.
I know my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton () is passionate about
ensuring that people with special educational needs and
disabilities get the support they need. I completely understand
the complexities of a rural constituency, as I represent one
myself, and it is why this Government introduced additional
payments for small and remote mainstream schools, which are
currently benefiting 23 schools in Rutland and Melton. More
recently, in the autumn statement, we announced an extra £2
billion pounds for schools next year and the year after, meaning
we will be spending more on schools than ever before, including
£400 million to support high needs budgets from next April.
I thank the Government for that investment in 23 schools in my
constituency. However, the families my team and I support are
sometimes waiting 40 weeks for a special educational needs
assessment, which is a far beyond the six-week statutory period.
So may I invite the Secretary of State to meet my local councils
and schools in order to understand why we have so many
difficulties in rural and small councils?
I thank my hon. Friend for that. All of us will be aware of the
huge impacts that long waiting times for diagnosis for autism and
for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can have on children
in our communities; many of us will see such cases in our
surgeries. To address this, last year we invested £13 million,
with a further £2.5 million this year, to improve autism
assessment pathways. NHS England is developing national guidance
to improve access to autism assessments and we are also committed
to looking at improving data on ADHD assessment waiting times to
help improve access. I am sure that she will join me in welcoming
my Department’s SEND—special educational needs and
disabilities—and alternative provision improvement plan, which we
will be publishing within the next week.
(Twickenham) (LD)
A special school in Oxfordshire is one of dozens of schools that
in the past few years have had to close because their buildings
were deemed unsafe for pupils. Last week, it was revealed that 39
schools have partly or fully closed for that reason since the
general election. With the House of Commons Library confirming
that money to maintain school buildings has been cut by 4% in
real terms, how will Ministers assure parents of children in both
special schools and mainstream schools that their children are
safe and that buildings are fit for purpose?
Obviously, it is always important that our children are in safe
schools, and we always take action as soon as possible if any
concerns are raised within a school. £15 billion has been spent
on the condition of school buildings since 2015, but there are
also additional funds for adding capacity. We have a lot of work
ongoing in this area—not only school rebuilding but condition
assessments, with structural engineers in some schools right now,
to make sure that we have all the information and data we need to
ensure that all our schools are fit for purpose.
Special Schools: Eye Testing
(Ruislip, Northwood and
Pinner) (Con)
2. What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the
provision of eye testing for children in special school
settings.
The Secretary of State for Education ()
The NHS long-term plan will give children with special needs in
residential special schools access to sight checks. In addition,
my Department trialled a new scheme in mainstream schools last
year, Glasses in Classes, which provides a spare pair of glasses
for every child who needs one. I look forward to hearing from
Durham University and the University of Bradford, which will be
publishing their findings on that in due course. The
Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member
for East Surrey (), who is responsible for
children, families and wellbeing, will continue to work closely
on this issue with her counterpart in the Department of Health
and Social Care.
I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. My recent visit
to the Eden Academy in my constituency illustrated the importance
of vision to achieving educational outcomes. What plans are there
across Government to ensure the availability of sufficient and
appropriate eye testing, so that children in SEND day schools are
able to achieve the best possible educational outcomes?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question, as this issue is really
important. My nephew has Down’s syndrome and wears glasses, so I
know of its importance, and it was a privilege for me to support
the Down Syndrome Act 2022 when I was in my previous role. Free
NHS sight tests are available for all children under 16 or under
19 and in full-time education. Children can be supported to
access high-street services or referred to the local eye service.
The NHS is evaluating its proof-of-concept sight testing
programme in special schools, and that evaluation will inform
decisions about the funding and delivery of any future sight
testing model.
(Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister very much for that response. I was a
recipient of those glasses as a four-year-old—that was not
yesterday, of course, as everybody will be aware! I went to
school at four and had my eyes tested, and I got those circular
NHS glasses that people will remember. The point I am making is
that early eyesight testing is important. What is being done with
the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that any
glasses prescribed are stylish and able to be worn, and would not
in any way disadvantage a person, especially a young person?
I do indeed remember those glasses, which I believe were
available in blue and pink at one point. As I said, all children
have access to free NHS sight tests, and voucher schemes are in
place for glasses as well. In addition, we have Glasses in
Classes and the programme in SEND schools, which are being
evaluated. It is vital that young people can see when they are
trying to learn to read and take in all that knowledge.
Transphobic Bullying
(Liverpool, Riverside)
(Lab)
3. What steps she is taking to tackle transphobic bullying in
schools.
Dame (Wallasey) (Lab)
16. What steps she is taking to tackle transphobic bullying in
schools.
The Secretary of State for Education ()
The tragic death of Brianna Ghey will be at the forefront of all
our minds. An investigation is ongoing and we should not assume
the facts of the case. However, I want to take this opportunity
to express my deepest sympathy to her family and friends.
Schools should be safe, supportive and calm places where children
are taught to respect each other and staff. The Government are
clear that bullying is unacceptable. Since 2016, we have provided
a total of more than £5.5 million to a number of anti-bullying
organisations, including the Anti-Bullying Alliance and others,
to support schools to tackle bullying.
I thank the Secretary of State for her response. According to
research from Stonewall, students identifying as transgender are
more likely to report having a bad experience at school or at
college as a result of bullying. Can she commit to ensuring that
schools and colleges are obligated to record incidents of
transphobic bullying, and providing guidance on how to support
students to report such incidents?
All schools are required to have a behaviour policy, which will
include anti-bullying, and Ofsted holds them to account on that.
We also recognise that issues relating to sex and gender can be
complex and sensitive for schools to navigate. I am currently
working with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and
Equalities to develop guidance to support schools in relation to
transgender pupils. It is important to consider a wide range of
views to get the guidance right and we have committed to holding
a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to
publication.
Dame
May I take this opportunity to add my thoughts and condolences to
the friends and family of ? Voting for Betty to
become the Speaker was the first vote in which I ever took part
in this House. In the five years that that Parliament took up, I
think that it was the only vote that we won.
Research shows that LGBT+ young people are twice as likely to be
bullied as their peers in school. For trans pupils, this can be
even worse. The Secretary of State’s predecessor promised last
September to issue draft guidance on supporting trans pupils. It
still has not appeared, so can the Secretary of State tell us
when this guidance will appear, as pupils need it and teachers
are crying out for it?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I know that that guidance
is very much required and that schools are waiting for it. We are
working on it—I am working on it right now with the Women and
Equalities Minister—but it is very important that we get it right
and have a long consultation on it, because, as we know and as we
have seen, this is quite a sensitive topic, and we do need to
treat it very sensitively. We are working on it.
(Penistone and Stocksbridge)
(Con)
At least 80% of schools now have children with trans identities,
up from just a handful a decade ago. Vulnerable children,
especially those who are autistic, have been abused or are in
care, are significantly over-represented among children who
report gender distress. But instead of safeguarding these
children, many schools continue, possibly unlawfully, to
encourage or affirm their transition, leading them down a
potentially irreversible path towards sterility and exploitation.
This is the safeguarding scandal of our generation, yet the
Department still has not produced this guidance for schools,
despite the reports of Dr Hilary Cass. What are the delays to
this safeguarding guidance being produced?
I would not say that there are delays, but we are working right
now to get the guidance right. I am sure that my hon. Friend will
also be speaking to the Minister for Women and Equalities to make
sure that all the views are represented. It is very important
that we protect victims of bullying and hate-related bullying,
including those who also have special educational needs. As we
know, there are many crossovers between those who are different
for different reasons and get an increased amount of bullying,
and we must do everything we can to stop that.
(Bexleyheath and Crayford)
(Con)
Alongside young people’s academic recovery, surely supporting
their mental health and wellbeing must be a priority in all of
our schools. Can my right hon. Friend confirm that this
Government are investing an extra £7 million this year to train
senior mental health leads for schools and colleges?
Yes, I can confirm that my right hon. Friend is absolutely right.
We have been investing in senior mental health leads in each
school. On top of that, mental health support teams are being
rolled out across schools. I think it is about 26% of schools at
the moment, and the target is 35% by 2024-25.
Reading Standards
(Warrington South) (Con)
4. What steps her Department is taking to improve reading
standards.
The Minister for Schools ()
Since the introduction of the phonics screening check in 2012, in
which every six-year-old is tested on their ability to read
simple words, the proportion reaching the expected standard has
increased from 58% to 82% in 2019—before the pandemic. England
has risen from joint 10th to joint eighth in the international
survey of the reading ability of nine-year-olds in the Pearl
study, in which we achieved our highest ever score. There is, of
course, more to do to ensure that every school is teaching
phonics as well as the best schools. That is why we have invested
£40 million in the English Hubs programme, which spreads best
practice in the teaching of reading.
I was at Park Road Community Primary School in Warrington on
Friday morning, seeing phonics in action. Studies have shown that
80% of children with dyslexia do not have the condition
identified before they leave school, and unfortunately too many
find themselves in alternative provision because behavioural
issues start to develop, stemming from a lack of understanding of
a child’s learning style. Does my right hon. Friend agree that
early screening and earlier intervention can level the playing
field and enable them to develop skills in a way that is suited
to their learning style?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Early identification of any
special educational need or support requirement is critical to
improving the outcomes for children and young people with special
educational needs and disabilities, including those with
dyslexia. We already have a number of measures to help teachers
do that, including the phonics screening check and statutory
assessments at the end of key stages 1 and 2.
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP)
Hungry children cannot learn, which affects their reading
standards and their chances in life, and there is a clear link
between undernourishment and lower academic attainment. The
Scottish Government have committed to free school meals for all
primary school children. Is it not time for the UK Government to
consider doing the same thing?
Of course, it was this Government who introduced the universal
infant free school meal, which means that 1.25 million children
in infant schools are receiving a free school meal. We have
increased from 1.7 million to 1.9 million the number of children
eligible for free school meals, so thanks to this Government
something like a third of children today are receiving a
nutritious meal at lunchtime in our schools.
Local Skills Needs
(Runnymede and Weybridge)
(Con)
5. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure
that education and training programmes meet local skills
needs.
(Fylde) (Con)
13. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure
that education and training programmes meet local skills
needs.
The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education
()
We are working with colleagues across Government and put
employers at the heart of local skills systems, with the roll-out
of 38 local skills improvement plans. These employer-led plans
will help ensure that skills provision better meets the needs of
employers, and we are also ensuring that apprenticeships,
T-levels and higher technical qualifications are all employer-led
qualifications.
Dr Spencer
At a schools and skills meeting that I hosted a few weeks ago in
my constituency, bringing together businesses and school leaders
to enhance opportunities, a representative from a special
educational needs school reminded us of the importance of these
opportunities for all children. Does my right hon. Friend agree
that work and training opportunities are essential for those of
all abilities and all ages, including those with special
educational needs or living with disabilities?
My hon. Friend is a champion of schools and skills in his
constituency. He is absolutely right to have a passion for making
sure that children with disabilities or special educational needs
have a chance to climb the skills ladder of opportunity. We are
investing £18 million to try to help those SEND students with
employment opportunities, as well as ensuring that careers
guidance helps them at every step of the way to get the career
chances that they deserve.
This Friday, pupils from Carr Hill school in my constituency will
attend an event celebrating BAE Systems and CREATE Education’s
Inspiring Lancashire programme. More than 2,000 pupils have
participated in the programme over the past year. It has
introduced them to the digital skills that are vital to
Lancashire’s continued success as a hub for high skilled,
well-paid technical jobs. What steps is my right hon. Friend
taking to encourage businesses to get involved in education and
skills?
My hon. Friend is a champion of skills as well. It is very good
news that that school is promoting careers and working with BAE,
which does so much for apprenticeships. Some 90% of schools and
colleges are now part of our careers hub. I am very pleased that
Lancashire has had 10,000 apprenticeship starts since last year
and was an early adopter of T-levels.
(Kingston upon Hull West and
Hessle) (Lab)
Some 740 people from Hull West and Hessle have had their
university applications accepted, and 35 of them will attend
higher education in the constituency, which will help us meet our
local skills needs. The Department for Education’s own equality
impact assessment, published in February, stated that the rise in
student loans and grants
“will overall have a negative impact for students”.
I believe in equality of opportunity, as does the Labour party,
but it is impossible when students face insurmountable financial
barriers to learning. When will the Government ensure that all
students have the financial resources that they need to
succeed?
We have to be fair to students and fair to the taxpayer. Many
people do not go to university but pay their taxes. We have
increased to £276 million—a £15 million increase—the money given
to the Office for Students from which universities can draw down
to help students who face financial difficulties. We have frozen
the loan—in 2025, it will not have had an increase for seven
years. Students who face difficulties can also get bursaries from
universities.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
I, too, am mourning Betty’s death today. We were friends even
before I got into Parliament. What a feisty woman, right to the
end. Were it not for her, you would probably still be wearing a
wig, Mr Speaker. [Interruption.] I know that is your own hair, Mr
Speaker.
I think the Minister is being entirely complacent. A huge number
of young people in our country, when little children, are
identified as clever, bright and really intelligent at primary
school, up to the age of 11, but when they get to big school they
disappear and do not achieve very much. Why is that, and why have
this Government done so little to rectify it since 2011?
I do not accept the hon. Gentleman’s narrative. In my area of
skills, more than 5 million apprenticeships have started since
2010. Over the past decade we have invested in skills in a way
that we never had before—over £3.8 billion. We have massively
improved our schools, and I think 88% are now rated good or
outstanding. We have a narrative in which we are delivering on
education and skills. I completely reject what he said.
Pupil Attainment: Cost of Living
(Ealing, Southall)
(Lab)
6. What assessment her Department has made of the potential
impact of increases in the cost of living on pupil
attainment.
The Minister for Schools ()
Raising academic standards is at the heart of the Government’s
education agenda. We routinely assess the impact on student
attainment of a range of factors, including the cost of living.
The schools budget will increase by £3.5 billion in 2023-24,
combined with a £4 billion increase in the schools budget for
this year. That amounts to a 15% increase in just two years. The
pupil premium is rising to about £2.9 million in the next
financial year, and it is supporting schools to improve outcomes
for disadvantaged students.
Mr Sharma
The children at Dormers Wells Junior School in my constituency
wrote to me about the challenges that they face with the cost of
living crisis. Children should not have to worry about their next
meal or about going back to cold and dark homes, but as this
crisis marches on, pupils are increasingly exposed to those harsh
realities. To combat this pressing situation, will the Government
commit to starting new breakfast clubs in primary schools and to
creating bursaries for the families most affected by the cost of
living crisis?
I share the hon. Gentleman’s concern about these issues. The
Government are committed to supporting the most vulnerable
households, with £26 billion of support announced for 2023-24.
That is in addition to the £37 billion of support for households
to deal with the cost of living this year. The Government are
also committed to continuing the support for school breakfasts.
In November last year, the national school breakfast programme
was extended, and the Government are providing up to £30 million
under the programme, which will support something like 2,500
schools.
Dame (Gosport) (Con)
The cost of living is not the only impact on pupil attainment.
Around 4,500 children every year are diagnosed with cancer, and
prolonged absences from school and the ongoing impact of
treatment mean that they can expect worse educational outcomes.
Currently, provision of access to education, health and care
plans is not universal for children with cancer, and it can be
long-winded and patchy. What thought has been given to automatic
entitlement to EHCPs for all children with a cancer diagnosis,
and will the excellent Minister meet me to discuss the issue?
I will of course meet the excellent former Minister to discuss
this important issue. Of course, the special educational needs
and alternative provision improvement plan will be published
shortly, but I do share her concern. One issue that has come out
of covid is that more remote learning is now available at home
for children who are unable to get to school for whatever reason,
and that will of course apply to children in hospitals as
well.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
Energy bills have jumped 300% in some schools, forcing many I
have spoken with to increase class sizes, strip back their
curriculum and make impossible decisions on what resources or
staff members to cut to balance the books. Does the Minister
accept that the cost of living crisis made in Downing Street is
having a direct impact on the quality of education that children
across the country are receiving?
The hon. Member may have missed the autumn statement, but we
added £2 billion to next year’s school funding, meaning that it
will rise by £3.5 billion next year. By 2024-25, we will be
spending record amounts in real terms and per pupil on our
schools. We take education extremely seriously and, as my right
hon. Friend the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher
Education said earlier, that is resulting in standards rising in
our schools, with better reading, better maths, better
attainment, higher quality and a higher proportion of schools
graded good or outstanding—88%, compared with 68% when the Labour
party left office in 2010. Of course, as I said earlier, we are
also providing households with £26 billion of support for
2023-24.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
First, on behalf of SNP Members present, I join other Members in
paying tribute to Betty Boothroyd. I did not know Betty
personally, but I am certainly well aware of her legacy, and I
pass on our condolences to her family.
The Chancellor has recently received an unexpected £5.4 billion
surplus due to higher than expected tax receipts. We know that
hungry children cannot learn effectively, and the Scottish
Government have committed to providing free school meals for all
primary school children in Scotland. What discussions has the
Minister had with Treasury colleagues, and indeed the Chancellor,
on using a tiny part of that surplus to provide free school meals
for all children in England?
Of course, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has
frequent meetings with the Chancellor. Indeed, in her first few
weeks in office she achieved an extra £2 billion of funding for
our schools, bringing the increase next year to £3.5 billion. As
I said earlier, the Government have extended free school meals to
more children than any other Government over the past
half-century. We remain committed to ensuring that the most
disadvantaged children continue to be supported.
Home-schooled Children Register
(St Helens South and Whiston)
(Lab)
7. What progress her Department has made on developing a register
of home-schooled children.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
We support the right of parents to educate their children at
home, provided that is suitable. We know that there has been a
rise in the number of children off-rolling since the pandemic. We
remain committed to introducing local authority registers and
will legislate for these as soon as possible.
Ms Rimmer
An increasing number of children are being educated at home,
partly as a legacy of the covid pandemic. I am sure that many of
those children are receiving a good education. However, local
authorities still have a duty to ensure that resident children
are receiving a suitable education. It is essential that local
authorities are notified of children who are being educated at
home, but at the moment there is no legal obligation for them to
be notified by the parents. Given that we are talking about those
children’s futures, will the Secretary of State ensure that any
form of register is introduced sooner, rather than later?
The hon. Lady is right, and this is an issue that the Government
take very seriously. The Minister for Schools and the Children’s
Commissioner for England recently chaired a roundtable on
children missing in education, and we are engaging with local
authorities and building a clearer picture through use of data,
as well as establishing better attendance data across schools and
trusts. We are committed to legislating at the earliest possible
opportunity.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Education Committee.
(Worcester) (Con)
I welcome my hon. Friend’s answer but, as she will know, having a
statutory register of children not in school has been a very
long-standing recommendation of the Select Committee. I believe
that recommendation is supported across the House, so can I urge
her to make sure that legislation comes forward at the first
available opportunity, delivering on what I think the Secretary
of State has already said is her top legislative priority?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question. This is a really
important area. As I have said, we are working in the interim to
do a lot of things regarding data to make sure that we can keep
track of attendance. We are seeing what we can do in the
meantime, but I absolutely commit to legislating at the earliest
possible opportunity.
Children’s Services
(North Devon) (Con)
9. What steps her Department is taking to support local councils
in delivering children’s services.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
We spend close to £11 billion on children’s services, helping
some of our most vulnerable children through challenging times.
In addition, we recently set out an ambitious package of reforms,
the “Stable Homes, Built on Love” strategy, backed by £200
million, and our improvement and intervention programme is
working, with 58% of local authorities now rated as good or
outstanding by Ofsted, compared with 36% in 2017.
Given the issues surrounding Devon’s children’s services, is it
possible to look for a granular solution that recognises the
differences between the more urban south and the rural north of
the county; one in which more localised solutions such as the
northern opportunity area can be considered, as well as
expediting the Government’s promised funding safety valve?
I thank my hon. Friend, who has raised this issue consistently on
behalf of her constituents. It is important that we see an
improvement in children’s services in Devon, and I recently met
the council leader and the chief executive to stress how
important that is to us. Nothing is off the table, and I reassure
my hon. Friend that the safety valve case remains open and still
under discussion.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
I represent a cross-borough constituency, so unfortunately I have
to see two of everything, deal with two of everything, and
experience two of everything. The differences between the
children’s services of my two local authorities could not be more
stark. I appreciate that the Minister has said that children’s
services have improved, but how do we get those councils that are
stuck in a rut to improve far more quickly, so that children in
both parts of my constituency have the best life chances?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. That is exactly what
our reforms are hoping to do. We have set out things such as a
new national framework and are looking at things like the agency
cap. [Interruption.] Somebody has just mentioned our record; as I
have just said, in recent years we have managed to increase the
number of local authorities rated as good or outstanding from 36%
to 58%, and we will continue to do everything we can to improve
that.
Secondary Education: Isle of Sheppey
(Sittingbourne and
Sheppey) (Con)
10. What steps she is taking to improve secondary school
education on the Isle of Sheppey.
The Minister for Schools ()
It is critical that secondary education on the Isle of Sheppey
improves. Following Ofsted’s judgment that the island’s only
secondary school was inadequate, the Department for Education and
the incumbent academy trust, Oasis Community Learning, have
mutually agreed to transfer the school to another trust. That
work is underway, and in the meantime Oasis is continuing to work
to improve the academy.
The Isle of Sheppey, which makes up 40% of my constituency, has
just one large academy split across two sites, two miles apart.
Sittingbourne, on the other hand, has five good secondary
schools. Because of the lack of choice on Sheppey, many parents
send their children to the mainland. That results in 1,000
children being bused to the mainland every day, which is putting
enormous pressure on Sittingbourne’s schools. Does my right hon.
Friend agree that my constituents on Sheppey deserve the same
quality of secondary education as is offered to those on the
mainland? If so, will he support my campaign for the current Isle
of Sheppey academy to be replaced by two schools, one
specialising in academic subjects and the other offering a
vocational and technical curriculum?
My hon. Friend and I have discussed the provision of secondary
education on the Isle of Sheppey on many occasions, and I pay
tribute to him for his strong advocacy for higher school
standards in every part of his constituency. He makes compelling
arguments about the school being on two sites, which are two
miles apart. The combined school has a capacity of 2,400 pupils
—more than enough for two schools. Currently, the Oasis Academy
Isle of Sheppey is being moved to a new multi-academy trust, and
I look forward to working with that new trust and my hon. Friend
to ensure that we are delivering the quality of secondary
education that he wants for his constituents and that parents in
his constituency are demanding.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Portsmouth South) (Lab)
The Government missed their secondary teacher recruitment target
by 40% this year, meaning that more and more children on the Isle
of Sheppey and across the country will be taught by
non-specialist teachers and will be attending schools that are
woefully understaffed. In the midst of a teacher recruitment and
retention crisis, does the Minister really think that removing a
quarter of teacher training providers will help address that
crisis?
The accreditation of teacher training providers resulted in 179
very high-quality teacher training providers being accredited. A
number failed the accreditation, but we want to ensure
consistency of teacher training in our system. In terms of
teacher recruitment, there have been challenges with secondary
education teacher recruitment this year post covid. Recruitment
is a problem right across the economy, not just in teaching, but
prior to the covid pandemic we were recruiting near to our
targets, and in primary education we exceeded those targets.
SEND Support
(Lewisham, Deptford)
(Lab)
11. What steps she is taking to improve support for children with
special educational needs and disabilities and their
families.
(Crewe and Nantwich)
(Con)
12. What steps she is taking to improve the provision of
education for students with special educational needs and
disabilities.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
This is an area that the Secretary of State, given her former
role in the Department of Health and Social Care, and I, as a
former Minister for disabled people, take seriously. Getting our
educational offer right for children with special educational
needs and disabilities is hugely important, and I will be
responding to the SEND and alternative provision Green Paper
within the next week.
At my surgery, I met a constituent who is a teacher at a SEND
school. She broke down in tears as she told me how they are
struggling to support their pupils because their budgets are
stretched to breaking point. In Lewisham, increased need is
costing £5 million a year more than the council’s SEND budget.
When next week—if I heard that right—will the Government finally
follow up on their Green Paper and publish their plans to fix
this mess? Those vulnerable children and their families need
proper support.
I will be responding to the SEND and AP Green Paper within the
next week. We have increased funding massively in this area—it is
up by 50% in the past three years. I struggle to think of another
area of government that has risen that fast. This is about
spending well and making sure that all the pupils who need help
can get it as soon as possible.
Dr Mullan
We struggle with SEND provision in Cheshire, both in terms of
special school places and support for children in school. Can the
Minister outline the steps that the Government have taken to
increase provision to build on the upcoming expansion of
Springfield School in my constituency, and also join me in
congratulating the school on its amazing achievement of being
named school of the year last year in the national schools
awards?
I join my hon. Friend in congratulating Springfield School on its
outstanding achievement—he has often bent my ear about the head,
Lisa Hodgkison, and the tremendous work she is doing there. We
are investing £2.6 billion to increase the number of specialist
school places across the country.
Adult Upskilling
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
14. What steps her Department is taking to support upskilling
opportunities for adults.
(Burnley) (Con)
19. What steps her Department is taking to support upskilling
opportunities for adults.
The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education
()
We have a range of programmes designed for adults to upskill.
Skills bootcamps are free flexible courses of up to 16 weeks,
offering learners the opportunity to develop skills with the
offer of a job interview, and we delivered 16,120 training places
over the last year, 2021-22. Following the commitment of £550
million at the spending review in autumn 2021, we are making
thousands more training places available.
Harrogate College in my constituency can, in certain
circumstances, contribute towards childcare to help adults study,
when that is a factor preventing them from upskilling. Will my
right hon. Friend be reviewing what more can be done to remove
any barriers that prevent adults from renewing and updating their
skills?
My hon. Friend is a champion of Harrogate College, and I do not
think he will have any problem with his college doing the things
he has described, because it has been recognised as having an
outstanding adult learning programme. It has been allocated more
than £400,000 from the adult education budget this academic year
to help the adults in the non-devolved areas, including
Harrogate.
The advent of areas such as artificial intelligence, automation
and robotics means that the jobs of tomorrow could look very
different from the jobs of today and require very different
skillsets. In Lancashire, the new institute of technology that is
being established will be key to that. It will bring together
Burnley College and the University of Central Lancashire from my
constituency, as well as providers and employers from all over
the counties. For opportunity to be shared equally, however, we
need to ensure that those already in work have the chance to
develop and reskill for the future. Will my right hon. Friend
confirm how the Government will ensure that IOTs benefit adult
learners looking for opportunities to reskill?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight institutes of
technology; we are investing £300 million in 21 around the
country, which is an example of the Government’s investment in
skills. He will know that the Lancashire and Cumbria IOT is a
collaboration between further education colleges, universities
and employers driving an employer-led curriculum to meet local
skills needs in science, technology, engineering and maths. IOTs
are involved in the regeneration of areas such as Blackpool and
are expected to commence delivery from September.
(Stirling) (SNP)
All hon. Members agree that the skills agenda is vital for the
future of the economy, but the loss of the European social fund
has been devastating for skills providers. Surely the Minister
agrees that the UK Exchequer should match the ESF money lost
across all four home nations.
These matters are, of course, for the Treasury, but I am proud
that the Government are investing £3.8 billion extra in skills
over this Parliament, as well as £2.7 billion in
apprenticeships.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
Polling has found that 46.4% of workers said that they would
learn a new skill if it were free for them to do so, but colleges
and educational institutions do not have the funding to put on
the courses required. What discussions has the Minister had with
the Secretary of State for Business and Trade about the economic
benefit of upskilling the workforce? What plans do the Government
have to do that?
We are upskilling the workforce all the time—that is behind the
Government’s approach. We are investing in resources, as I
mentioned, and £3.8 billion extra is being spent on skills during
this Parliament. We are investing in recruitment, FE resources
and bursaries for FE college tutors in key subjects, such as
STEM. Everything that the Government are doing—investing in
quality qualifications and resources, and working with
business—is to ensure that our country has the skills that we
need.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Warwick and Leamington)
(Lab)
YouGov polling published today shows that 40% of workers want to
learn a new skill to get a better job, and almost as many want to
see more investment in skills. The Conservatives have had 13
years to deliver, yet almost 4 million fewer adults are taking
part in training now than in 2010 and part-time study has
plummeted by 50%. Given their pitiful record on this important
agenda, is it not finally time for a Labour Government to take
the reins?
I am surprised by the hon. Gentleman’s question; he is a
thoughtful shadow spokesman. As I have already highlighted, we
have a proud record on skills in this country. We have had more
than 5 million apprenticeship starts since 2010 and we are
developing high-level, prestigious vocational qualifications in
the T-levels and higher technical qualifications. We are offering
free level 3 courses to thousands of people, as well as the
bootcamps that I mentioned earlier. Whichever way we look, the
Government are giving young people and adults a skills ladder of
opportunity, at the top of which is job security and prosperity.
That is possibly why—
Mr Speaker
Order. I call .
Affordable Childcare
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
15. What steps she is taking to improve access to affordable
childcare.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
Improving parents’ access to affordable childcare is a Government
priority. We are working with the Department for Work and
Pensions and His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to deliver the
childcare choices campaign to raise awareness among parents and
providers of the Government-funded subsidies available to support
families.
With the Budget coming up, will the Government look at how
reducing the cost of childcare could help productivity by
supporting women who want to go back into the workplace and
bringing back over-50s who may have retired early partly to look
after grandchildren?
My right hon. Friend is right that childcare is about supporting
women and parents into the labour market. We want to support
families and are exploring options to achieve this. The
Government have delivered a huge amount on childcare, including
doubling the 15-hour entitlement for working parents of three to
four-year-olds to 30 hours and introducing 15 free hours for
disadvantaged two-year-olds.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Dulwich and West Norwood)
(Lab)
On Saturday, I met a constituent who was about to return to work
from her maternity leave after having her second child. Her
childcare costs for a three-year-old and a one-year-old will be
£2,700 a month. Spiralling childcare costs are an unbearable cost
of living pressure for many families, so what discussions has the
Minister had with the Treasury about tackling this unsustainable
pressure, and can parents and providers expect to see the urgent
change that is needed in the forthcoming Budget?
I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I understand that it is a
challenging time with the cost of living and with childcare. I
would say it is the Conservative Government who have done the
most of any party to expand hourly entitlements. We expanded the
hours for three to four-year-olds, we have introduced 15 hours
for disadvantaged two-year-olds, we have introduced the holidays
and activities fund—by the way, 70% of those participating in
2021 said that they had never been to anything like that
before—and we have doubled the number of families in recent years
who have taken up tax-free childcare.
Topical Questions
(Manchester, Gorton) (Lab)
T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental
responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Education ()
Last Friday marked one year since Russia’s illegal invasion of
Ukraine. All of us in the House should be proud of the support
our country has provided to Ukrainians, both at home and abroad.
I want to take the opportunity to thank all of our schools,
colleges and universities for their steadfast support of children
and young people fleeing this horrific conflict. To date, our
schools have welcomed over 20,000 children from Ukraine, and in
my own constituency we have welcomed over 245 children. By
coincidence, one of them won my recent Christmas card
competition—a very talented six-year-old called Anastasiia, whom
I met along with her mother at St Joseph’s primary school in
Chichester. She is thriving, which is testament to the incredible
role our schools are playing to support children who have lived
through something that none of us could imagine. Our nurseries,
schools, colleges and universities have stood up for the people
of Ukraine, and this Government and this country—and this
House—will always stand with Ukraine.
I recently met students at Manchester University who are deeply
concerned about the quality of student housing and, like all of
us, are feeling the incredible strain of the Tory cost of living
crisis. The Government’s failure to properly manage student
maintenance loans will mean that students are £1,500 worse off in
real terms. Can the Secretary of State tell me why the Government
are punishing students like this?
Of course, we always want to support our students, and we have
been increasing the maintenance loan. We have kept the fees flat
as well, and we have increased the hardship fund. However, I know
this is a concern, particularly in some big cities where housing
costs have gone up and where perhaps there is a shortage of
housing available for students as well. We do urge universities
to act on this, because we have seen some crunch points where
there is not enough housing, which can create pressure on
students’ budgets.
(Aylesbury) (Con)
T3. JCL Glass, a really successful family business in my
constituency, wants to offer apprenticeships, but its directors
tell me that there is no scheme in the glass manufacturing
industry. Will my right hon. Friend set out what efforts are
being made to create apprenticeships in sectors that do not yet
have them, and how companies that want to be involved, such as
JCL Glass, can help to develop them?
The Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education
()
Employers have developed 660 high-quality apprenticeships,
including 150 in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Where
employers identify the need for new and emerging skills,
including in green jobs, they can work with the Institute for
Apprenticeships and Technical Education, which stands ready to
work with employers to introduce new apprenticeships. I would
encourage JCL Glass to speak to the institute about this.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Houghton and Sunderland
South) (Lab)
May I begin by joining the right hon. Lady the Secretary of State
in recognising the tremendous contribution of everyone right
across education in welcoming Ukrainian refugees to our country,
and reiterate our commitment, right across the House, to facing
down Russian aggression?
Last week, the Leader of the Opposition set out that spreading
opportunity through reform of our childcare and education systems
will be a central mission of the next Labour Government. By
contrast, the Prime Minister fails to identify education as a
priority for his Government. Can the Secretary of State explain
why?
I am delighted that the Leader of the Opposition has finally
recognised education, because every other speech he has given did
not mention it at all. The education of our children is vital,
and standards and quality are also important. Since 2010, we have
been making sure that the standards of our education for children
give them the best opportunity to thrive in life. We have
increased access to free childcare, and we have changed school
standards, ensuring that all our kids are doing much better in
much better schools. We have increased the number of good and
outstanding schools, and increased skills training. We have
introduced T-levels, we have introduced apprenticeships—we have
done endless things, and every one of them has been done to
increase quality.
Mr Speaker
I remind Front Benchers that many people want to get in at
topical questions, which are meant to be short and punchy. Can we
set the best example?
Will the Secretary of State explain to parents why after 13 years
of Conservative Governments, her Department escalated the risk of
a school building collapsing to “critical—very likely”?
Absolutely. We take the condition of schools very seriously, and
we will be publishing data. We have collected a lot of data on
schools—1.2 billion lines of data—and every time a school is
identified as having a risk, it is acted on immediately.
Mr (South West Hertfordshire)
(Con)
T4. My constituent, Ms Bhaduri Patel, came to speak to me
at my recent surgery in Chorleywood. Her daughter Keya has
special educational needs and is currently being kept at home, as
she cannot get the support required to have a mainstream
education. What is the Minister doing to work with councils such
as Hertfordshire County Council, to ensure that pupils such as
Keya can access the support they need?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education ()
I am so sorry to hear about the position of Keya. There are
things we are doing, including increasing access to specialist
school spaces and improving the offer in schools, and I will be
setting out more detail within the next week.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
It is concerning to hear that the Home Secretary is considering
changing visa rules significantly to reduce the period that
international students can remain in the UK post-graduation. When
the post-study work visa was previously withdrawn, huge damage
was done to the higher education sector. Will the Minister assure
the House that he will oppose such short-sighted and reactionary
policies from the Home Secretary?
Immigration matters are for the Home Office, but I am proud that
we have a target of 600,000 international students every year. We
have exceeded that target, and they have ensured that the
economic worth to our country is £25 billion.
(Bolsover) (Con)
T5. Some 23% of school leavers from the Bolsover School go on
to study at a sixth form, which is 16% below the national
average. Does the Secretary of State agree that our free school
bid for the heart of Bolsover—an extension to the Bolsover
School—will help to increase those numbers, and increase skills
levels locally?
Obviously I cannot comment on bids, but I thank my hon. Friend
for meeting me to discuss his ongoing campaign to open a new
sixth form in Bolsover. I share his passion for wanting every
young person to have a wide range of opportunities to fulfil
their potential, whether that is through T-levels,
apprenticeships or higher technical qualifications. The next
generation must have the skills to thrive.
Luke Pollard (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport) (Lab/Co-op)
T2. With rising utility and staffing costs, brilliant nurseries
such as Tops Day Nurseries in Plymouth are running at a loss and
running out of time. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we
can keep those brilliant businesses afloat, especially to support
our most deprived and challenging communities?
Let me take the opportunity to thank all those working in this
sector. I know they do incredible work, and it is difficult with
the spike in inflation and the rising cost of energy. We always
monitor the situation and sufficiency of places. We have spent
£3.5 billion in each of the past three years, and we have
provided support with energy bills. We are focused on halving
inflation, but we recognise the challenges and will always do
more. I am very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman.
(Hyndburn) (Con)
T6. I recently met primary and secondary school
headteachers. The consensus among them was that there were still
significant concerns regarding budgets, and how they fund pay
awards and energy costs. The autumn statement provided billions
of extra support and the energy bills discount scheme. Has the
Secretary of State made an assessment of how that will help their
budgets going forward and whether it will relieve financial
pressures?
The Minister for Schools ()
The new energy bills discount scheme will mean that any schools
facing energy costs above the price threshold will receive a
discount on their bills until 31 March 2024. In addition, the
extra funding announced at the autumn statement, £2 billion, will
help schools manage higher costs, including higher energy bills.
The core schools budget will total £58.8 billion by 2024-25, the
highest ever level in real terms per pupil.
(Sheffield, Hallam) (Lab)
Last month Carla, a parent in my constituency, suffered a serious
head injury after a large piece of cladding flew off the school
building, striking her on the head. Thankfully, Carla’s injuries
are not life-threatening, but we need to ensure no other parent,
staff member or child is put at risk in that way. According to
leaked Government reports, school buildings in England are in
such bad disrepair that they are a “risk to life”. Instead of
waiting for the inevitable to happen, will the Minister meet me
to discuss the issue?
I am very happy to meet the hon. Lady to discuss the issue. The
ratings she refers to reflect increased numbers of structural
issues identified through our continued monitoring and surveying
of the schools estate, and the age of that estate. We can and do
improve the life expectancy of school buildings by careful
maintenance and upgrades over time. That is why we have a 10-year
rebuilding programme, allocate significant capital funding each
year, and provide extensive guidance on effective estate
management. Whenever the Department is made aware of a dangerous
building, immediate action is taken.
(Crawley) (Con)
T7. I welcome Crawley schools’ funding being increased to a
record £100 million for the coming financial year. Can my right
hon. Friend say a little bit more about specific support for
dyslexic pupils? I declare an interest as a vice-president of the
British Dyslexia Association.
My hon. Friend is passionate about securing an excellent
education for all his residents. The funding will help many
children in mainstream education, but with dyslexia early
identification and teacher training is key. I will be setting out
more details in the response to the special educational needs and
disabilities and alternative provision Green Paper.
(Norwich South) (Lab)
Is the Secretary of State and her Department aware of the severe
financial crisis engulfing the University of East Anglia, one so
severe that the vice-chancellor has today resigned? This will
have a dramatic impact on the regional economy. We could be
looking at up to £45 million-worth of projected debt and 30% job
losses. As such, will the Secretary of State or the Minister
agree to meet me and a delegation from the University of East
Anglia to discuss this most critical issue as soon as
possible?
Yes, I would be very happy to meet the hon. Gentleman sooner
rather than later.
(Darlington) (Con)
T8. May I draw my right hon. Friend’s attention to the
fantastic Reading Lobster scheme at Skerne Park Academy,
encouraging wider reading that is broadening horizons and
achieving better outcomes? What steps are the Secretary of State
and her Department taking to encourage wider reading in our
primary schools?
I congratulate my hon. Friend on his commitment to reading and
congratulate Skerne Park Academy on its Reading Lobster scheme,
which I am keen to learn more about. Anything that promotes a
love and habit of reading for pleasure can only be a good
thing—and, as I say, the world’s your lobster.
(Weaver Vale) (Lab)
According to the Department’s own figures, in 2022, 5,400
children’s social workers left the profession. That is 9% up on
the previous year. What are Ministers doing to address this
crisis in retention and recruitment in children’s social
work?
I agree with the hon. Gentleman that recruitment and retention is
key. We set out plans in our reforms a couple of weeks ago,
including looking at what we are doing on agency workers, An
additional £3.2 billion was set out in the autumn statement to go
into adult and children’s social care.
(South West Bedfordshire)
(Con)
I was pleased when a new construction and engineering skills
centre was built on Chartmoor Road in Leighton Buzzard, but it
has failed to deliver. We need 1 million engineers and a quarter
of a million construction workers. Will the Department ensure it
keeps an eye on such projects so that they deliver for the people
who need them?
We have had a huge increase—15.7%—in construction apprenticeship
starts over the past year. On the college my hon. Friend refers
to, we are working closely with Bedford College Group and Central
Bedfordshire College to ensure that employers in Bedfordshire
continue to benefit from the wide range of skills offers
available.
(Lewisham East) (Lab)
Earlier this month, a serious racially aggravated assault took
place outside a school in Surrey. Last week, I was informed of a
further assault that took place at a school in Kent. Could the
Secretary of State say what additional safeguards will be put in
place to protect children, and how the senior leadership in
schools will be held to account if they fail to protect students
from racial discrimination?
The recent violent incident in the vicinity of Thomas Knyvett and
the incident in Medway were absolutely abhorrent. Children’s
safety and wellbeing is the Department’s highest priority, and
schools and colleges have a duty to safeguard. Since the
incident, the Department has been in regular contact with the
academy trust and local authorities. A police investigation is
ongoing in one of those cases, and the academy trust is working
with the relevant authorities to undertake a thorough review into
what happened.
(Northampton North) (Con)
My staff member Callum Dineen has been campaigning to improve
mental health policies at universities following the tragic
suicide of his close friend Theo Brennan-Hulme. I thank the
Universities Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow
(), for meeting Callum on this
sensitive matter. Callum has been particularly focused on
information sharing in a mental health crisis, which is a policy
that Universities UK has recently endorsed and one that we feel
would have helped Theo. Can the Minister inform the House of the
steps that the Government are taking to ensure that those
policies are being adopted in universities?
I had a very moving meeting with Callum. The story of the loss of
his friend is absolutely tragic. There are serious mental health
problems among some students across higher education and
universities, and there have been some tragic episodes. We are
investing £15 million to support students’ mental health and are
strongly supporting the students’ mental health charter. I have
asked Edward Peck, the vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent, to
work on these issues.
Mr Speaker
Order. I say again to Ministers that Question Time should be
short and punchy; it is not an opportunity for Ministers to roll
on and read out pages of articles. Question Time is for Members
to ask questions, so please help me to help them do so.
(Walsall South) (Lab)
A headteacher in one of my schools said that there were material
errors in the assessment and review of the infrastructure parts
of their bids for funds from the school heating programme. What
is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that the bids are
properly assessed?
Officials will give detailed feedback when a school fails to
secure a bid through the many different bidding schemes for
capital. We spend a huge amount of money on capital funding in
our schools—about £13 billion since 2015. I am happy to meet the
hon. Lady, the school and officials to go through what went wrong
with that bid.
(Meriden) (Con)
The Secretary of State will be aware of the tragic incident that
occurred in my constituency on the icy lake in Kingshurst, where
four children tragically lost their lives. Will she agree to meet
me to discuss my campaign to educate children on water safety, to
avoid such tragedies in future?
Yes, I am committed to seeing what we can do to improve that, and
I will definitely meet my hon. Friend.
(North Shropshire) (LD)
I recently had a meeting with headteachers from across north
Shropshire, who were clear that they had two top issues:
recruitment and retention of staff, and the fact that rural
schools receive less funding than their urban counterparts. Can
the Secretary of State tell me what she is doing to help schools
in rural areas with those two big problems?
On recruitment, we have increased the bursaries for this year
from £130 million to £180 million, to provide £27,000 bursaries
for the shortage subjects. In the national funding formula
we have changed a number of elements to give more money to small
schools in rural areas through the sparse funding component.
(Watford) (Con)
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is important that
families with first-hand experience of special educational
needs—such as my constituents the Murphy family, who are in the
public gallery—have the opportunity to have a say directly and
influence SEN policy and provision, given decisions will affect
them on a daily basis?
I welcome the Murphy family—hello! Co-production is incredibly
important; that is how we have designed our response to the SEN
paper. We will continue to consult at every opportunity.
(Eltham) (Lab)
We know from leaked Government documents that there is a £13
billion backlog in school repairs. Some cases are deemed to pose
a risk to life. Is the Schools Minister aware of any school
buildings that are at risk of collapse?
We have been conducting some of the biggest surveys of the fabric
of school buildings in this country, which is why we are able to
identify risks in our schools. Whenever we are informed about a
risk to a school, we take immediate action, which can mean that
certain buildings in a school are no longer used. We then send in
surveyors, specialists and experts, and remedial action is put in
place. We take these issues extremely seriously.
Sir (New Forest East) (Con)
Is there a danger that the Government’s proposed legislation on
freedom of speech in universities could be weakened or undermined
by a requirement first to exhaust internal processes of appeal,
which can be protracted?
We have sent the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill back
to the Lords with the tort unamended. We will continue to look at
everything we can do to make sure that the Bill is as strong as
possible.
Mr Speaker
And now, a short question from . [Laughter.]
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
Does the Secretary of State agree that early years stimulation is
vital? When will she do something about bringing back children’s
centres and Sure Start?
I will do even better than that. We are introducing family hubs,
which have a lot more utility and will be much more useful to
those who need them.
(Stoke-on-Trent North)
(Con)
Will my right hon. Friend congratulate Councillor Dave Evans and
his team, led by Lisa Lyons, Vonni Gordon and Steven Orchard, for
getting Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s children’s services from
“inadequate” to “requires improvement”? That is an incredible
turnaround, but obviously there is still a way to go.
I am very happy to congratulate Stoke-on-Trent City Council and
the many other councils that have made that turnaround possible.
That is very important, as we build on the work of Stable Homes,
Built on Love.
Mr Speaker
Finally, I call the Chair of the Select Committee on
Education.
(Worcester) (Con)
Will my right hon. Friend update the House on the steps that she
is taking to progress talks with the National Education Union to
ensure that there is no more disruptive and damaging strike
action?
I am quite surprised that this question did not come up earlier.
On Tuesday of last week, the Government made a serious offer to
the leaders of the National Education Union and the Royal College
of Nursing to pause this week’s strikes, get around the table and
talk about pay. This is an offer for talks about all areas in
dispute, and we could not have been clearer. It is a serious
offer; it was accepted by the Royal College of Nursing, and I
urge the education unions to do the same. They have yet to
formally respond, although statements have been circulating on
Twitter and TV indicating that they are not prepared to pause
their plans.
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