Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to fund British Sign Language classes for families with deaf children.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The department understands the great importance of British Sign Language (BSL) for bridging barriers to communication between hearing and deaf people. We also appreciate the vital need for families with deaf children to be able to access BSL courses, as early access to language is essential to help children learn and thrive.
Funding is available through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) for qualifications in or focussing on BSL, up to and including level 2. These qualifications include, for example, the Level 1 Award in BSL which allows learners to communicate in BSL on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use, thereby giving them the basic skills and confidence in production and reception of BSL. It will depend on an individual’s circumstances as to whether they are entitled to free provision or expected to meet part of the cost (through co-funding).
About 60% of the AEB has been devolved to Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Greater London Authority, who determine which provision to fund for learners who live in their areas. The Education and Skills Funding Agency provides the remaining funding for learners who live in non-devolved areas. Where community learning providers offer BSL courses, those providers are responsible for determining the course fees, including levels of fee remission.
For some BSL courses, Advanced Learner Loans (ALLs) are available, and parents can find more information about which qualifications are eligible here: https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/Search. More general information about the provision of ALLs is available at: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.
For parents learning BSL on an AEB funded course, there is also additional support available. The AEB provides funding to colleges and providers to help adult learners overcome barriers preventing them from accessing learning. Providers have discretion to help learners meet costs such as transport, accommodation, books, equipment, and childcare. Learning support funding also helps colleges and training providers to meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and the costs of reasonable adjustments, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to tackle racism in (a) schools and (b) amongst young people.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The government condemns and strives to tackle all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice and harassment. Under the Equality Act 2010, schools have a duty to take steps to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all protected characteristics, including between people of different ethnic backgrounds. The department has published advice to support schools to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools?msclkid=9ce22dddcc5d11ec9a0a2d6e2fd0a666.
Challenging intolerant, racist or discriminatory views, where these are shared at school, should be seen as part of schools’ wider anti-bullying and safeguarding duties. All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. The policy should set out the behaviour expected of pupils, the sanctions that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and recognition for good behaviour. This should be communicated to all pupils, school staff and parents.
The department’s statutory safeguarding guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’, which applies to all schools, makes it clear that all staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training which is regularly updated. It also makes clear that all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates as required, and at least annually, to continue to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively. The department does not mandate specific programmes as we believe that schools and colleges are best placed to decide on the training needs of their staff, taking into account local issues. The guidance can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101454/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2022.pdf.
The department publishes information, guidance and support for teachers and school leaders on how to challenge radical views, including racist and discriminatory beliefs, on the Educate Against Hate website. One of these resources is the Respectful School Communities toolkit, a self-review and signposting tool to support schools in developing a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline. This can help to combat bullying, harassment and prejudice of any kind, including hate-based bullying, and is available here: https://educateagainsthate.com/resources/respectful-school-communities-self-review-signposting-tool-2/.
The department is also providing over £2 million of funding, between 10 August 2021 and 31 March 2024, to five anti-bullying organisations to support schools in tackling bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as those who are victims of hate related bullying.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Highgate)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing safeguarding and training programmes in schools to (a) protect Black and minority ethnic students and (b) assist them to deal with racism.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The government condemns and strives to tackle all forms of racial discrimination, prejudice and harassment. Under the Equality Act 2010, schools have a duty to take steps to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations across all protected characteristics, including between people of different ethnic backgrounds. The department has published advice to support schools to fulfil their duties under the Equality Act 2010, which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/equality-act-2010-advice-for-schools?msclkid=9ce22dddcc5d11ec9a0a2d6e2fd0a666.
Challenging intolerant, racist or discriminatory views, where these are shared at school, should be seen as part of schools’ wider anti-bullying and safeguarding duties. All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. The policy should set out the behaviour expected of pupils, the sanctions that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and recognition for good behaviour. This should be communicated to all pupils, school staff and parents.
The department’s statutory safeguarding guidance, ‘Keeping children safe in education’, which applies to all schools, makes it clear that all staff should receive appropriate safeguarding and child protection training which is regularly updated. It also makes clear that all staff should receive safeguarding and child protection updates as required, and at least annually, to continue to provide them with relevant skills and knowledge to safeguard children effectively. The department does not mandate specific programmes as we believe that schools and colleges are best placed to decide on the training needs of their staff, taking into account local issues. The guidance can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101454/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2022.pdf.
The department publishes information, guidance and support for teachers and school leaders on how to challenge radical views, including racist and discriminatory beliefs, on the Educate Against Hate website. One of these resources is the Respectful School Communities toolkit, a self-review and signposting tool to support schools in developing a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline. This can help to combat bullying, harassment and prejudice of any kind, including hate-based bullying, and is available here: https://educateagainsthate.com/resources/respectful-school-communities-self-review-signposting-tool-2/.
The department is also providing over £2 million of funding, between 10 August 2021 and 31 March 2024, to five anti-bullying organisations to support schools in tackling bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as those who are victims of hate related bullying.
Asked by: Rosie Duffield (Independent - Canterbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason the extension of free childcare will not commence until 2024.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The government announced in the Spring Budget 2023 that there will be a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this 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 announcement represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England.
Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From September 2024, this will be extended to parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds, and from September 2025, working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds will be able to access 30 free hours per week, over 38 weeks a year.
This is a large expansion in the 30 hours offer and will take some time to implement and rollout. The department wants to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used efficiently, and the new offer is delivered in the best way. The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity, and we are working closely with the sector on the implementation of these reforms.
The department has already spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare. In the last decade, we have doubled the free childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to 30 hours and introduced 15 free hours a week for disadvantaged 2-year-olds.
The reforms announced build on our current early education entitlements which continue to support parents, including a universal 15-hour offer for all 3 and 4-year-olds, the 15-hour offer for the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds, and the existing 30 hours offer, as well as Tax Free Childcare and Universal Childcare.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward the date at which parents of one and two year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The government announced in the Spring Budget 2023 that there will be a number of transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this 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 announcement represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England.
Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From April 2024, working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks a year. From September 2024, this will be extended to parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds, and from September 2025, working parents of 9 month to 3-year-olds will be able to access 30 free hours per week, over 38 weeks a year.
This is a large expansion in the 30 hours offer and will take some time to implement and rollout. The department wants to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used efficiently, and the new offer is delivered in the best way. The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity, and we are working closely with the sector on the implementation of these reforms.
The department has already spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare. In the last decade, we have doubled the free childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds to 30 hours and introduced 15 free hours a week for disadvantaged 2-year-olds.
The reforms announced build on our current early education entitlements which continue to support parents, including a universal 15-hour offer for all 3 and 4-year-olds, the 15-hour offer for the most disadvantaged 2-year-olds, and the existing 30 hours offer, as well as Tax Free Childcare and Universal Childcare.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department are taking to help ensure adequate staffing levels in local authority SEN teams.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, the department committed to considering further the skills and training that local authority SEND casework teams receive. When consulting on amending the SEND Code of Practice, the department will propose new guidance on delivering a responsive and supportive SEND casework service to families. The SEND and AP Improvement Plan can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139561/SEND_and_alternative_provision_improvement_plan.pdf.
Asked by: Sarah Jones (Labour - Croydon West)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of changes to Level 3 Qualifications on the education of 16 to 18 year-olds.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The department has published impact assessments to reflect the potential effect of reforms to Level 3, post-16 qualifications in England on the education of 16 to 19 year olds.
The most recent impact assessment, published in March 2023, provides an overview of the potential effects on students aged 16 to 19 resulting from the proposed removal of public funding approval from those qualifications that have been assessed as overlapping with T Levels. This can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1146228/EIA_updated_final_wave_1_2_T_Level_overlap_inc_Health_and_Science.pdf.
A further impact assessment, published in July 2022, which reflects all planned reforms to qualifications at Level 3, is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the value is of the contract her Department holds with Hempsall’s for the delivery of childcare sufficiency support to local authorities in the period between April 2023 and March 2025.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
On 2 November 2022, the department launched a competitive open procurement in accordance with Regulation 27 of Public Contract Regulations 2015 for the Local Authority Childcare Sufficiency Support Contract. This was conducted electronically via the Jaggaer e-tendering portal, with 3 bids received. The result of the tender was a single successful supplier, Hempsall Consultancies Limited.
On 7 March 2023, the department published the contract award, this can be located at: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006612-2023. The contract value can be found at paragraph 11.1.7 and is £825,000, excluding VAT.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of SEN staff in local authorities.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
The department does not hold data on local authority special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) staff. In the SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published on 2 March 2023, the department committed to considering further the skills and training that local authority SEND casework teams receive. When consulting on amending the SEND Code of Practice, the department will propose new guidance on delivering a responsive and supportive SEND casework service to families.
Local authorities are responsible for managing their local SEND services to meet their statutory duties around children and young people with SEND. The SEND and AP Improvement Plan can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1139561/SEND_and_alternative_provision_improvement_plan.pdf.
Asked by: Jonathan Lord (Conservative - Woking)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve early years teacher training.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Woking, to the answer I gave on 16 January 2023 to Question 177575.