Asked by: Freddie van Mierlo (Liberal Democrat - Henley and Thame)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the implementation of high quality continuous provision in Key Stage 1 to ensure effective progression from the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Schools must decide how to best support children’s transitions from the early years foundation stages (EYFS) phase into key stage 1. Some schools continue elements of the pedagogical approach of the EYFS into Year 1 to enable a gradual transition. The EYFS Profile Assessment at the end of reception helps guide teachers in deciding how to meet the needs of each cohort and child.
The government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review set out how we will be reforming the curriculum and assessment system, which will include changes at key stage 1.
Asked by: Shivani Raja (Conservative - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children receiving SEND transport support where the responsible adult has access to a vehicle through the Motability Scheme.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to arrange free home-to-school travel for eligible children. A child’s eligibility is not affected by any further benefits or allowances they or their parents may receive.
The department does not collect or hold information about the number of children receiving home to school travel from their local authority where the responsible adult has access to a vehicle through the Motability Scheme.
Asked by: Chris Coghlan (Liberal Democrat - Dorking and Horley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review section 1.37 of the School Admissions Code 2021 to assess the potential benefits of requiring all schools designated with a religious character to prioritise all looked-after and previously looked-after children in their admissions arrangements, regardless of faith.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department values the contribution schools with a religious character make to a diverse school system, and it is important faith schools can set admissions criteria that work for their local circumstances.
As a minimum, faith schools must give priority to looked after children and previously looked after children of the faith before giving priority to other children of faith. Faith schools may also choose but are not required to give top priority to looked-after and previously looked after children regardless of faith.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of her proposed maternity pay reforms; and how she plans to fund this additional cost.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
This government is committed to tackling recruitment and retention challenges and supporting teachers to stay in the profession and thrive.
The recent Schools White Paper announced our commitment to fund improvements to maternity pay for school and college teachers, leaders and support staff. From September 2027/28, school teachers and leaders will see their period of full maternity pay, doubled from the current offer of 4 weeks of full pay to 8 weeks. The announcement responds to evidence that women aged 30 to 39 are the largest group of leavers from the school teacher workforce in terms of volume, which could be linked to choosing between a career and having a family.
While we are not able to share the exact funding amount at this stage, we will fully fund the improved maternity offer at a national level and are currently finalising the estimates.
Asked by: Saqib Bhatti (Conservative - Meriden and Solihull East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of maternity pay reforms on teacher retention.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
This government is committed to tackling recruitment and retention challenges and supporting teachers to stay in the profession and thrive.
The recent Schools White Paper announced our commitment to fund improvements to maternity pay for school and college teachers, leaders and support staff. From September 2027/28, school teachers and leaders will see their period of full maternity pay, doubled from the current offer of 4 weeks of full pay to 8 weeks. The announcement responds to evidence that women aged 30 to 39 are the largest group of leavers from the school teacher workforce in terms of volume, which could be linked to choosing between a career and having a family.
While we are not able to share the exact funding amount at this stage, we will fully fund the improved maternity offer at a national level and are currently finalising the estimates.
Asked by: Manuela Perteghella (Liberal Democrat - Stratford-on-Avon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of the use of (i) physical restraint and (ii) isolation practices in schools; what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of these practices; and when updated guidance for schools and parents will be published on this matter.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The government recognises that the use of restrictive interventions, such as physical restraint and seclusion, can have a significant and long-lasting effect on the pupils, staff members and parents involved, as well as other class members.
For this reason, we have recently updated the restrictive interventions, and the use of reasonable force in schools guidance. This aims to support schools to proactively minimise the need to use such interventions through early support, prevention and de-escalation strategies.
The ‘Behaviour in schools’ guidance outlines expectations around the use of removal from the classroom which some schools refer to as isolation. Schools should ensure that removal for any pupil is for the minimum amount of time necessary, and that removal is used consistently, proportionately, and in a way that supports the pupil’s reintegration into the classroom.
The guidance makes clear to schools that they should collect, review and analyse data internally to assess the use of restrictive interventions and removal, so that improvements to these practices can be identified.
As outlined in the Schools White Paper, we will spread best practice through refreshed resources to support schools to deliver calm, caring and inclusive environments.
Asked by: Chris Philp (Conservative - Croydon South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of potential foreign state ideological influence operating through student networks affiliated to UK universities.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This government is committed to freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law, but those freedoms do not extend to behaviour that constitutes extremist intimidation, harassment and incitement to hatred.
The National Security Act 2023 introduced offences of foreign interference which target malign activity carried out for, on behalf of, or intended to benefit, a foreign power.
In addition, the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, applies to UK universities and students. Any person conducting political influence activity at the direction of any foreign country, or being directed by the Russian or Iranian states to conduct activity in the UK, must register.
We are committed to ensuring our universities remain free from interference. We announced a new Academic Interference Reporting Route and issued guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-uk-higher-education-from-foreign-interference to help students and staff identify and escalate issues.
We will be investing £3 million to bolster support and advice on foreign interference for the sector.
Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of Plan 2 borrowers graduating between 2016 and 2023 whose total lifetime student loan repayments, including interest, are projected to exceed the net present value of the graduate earnings premium attributable to their degree.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not hold estimates of lifetime repayment costs for Plan 2 borrowers by earnings bands.
The Autumn Budget included freezes to Plan 2 repayment and interest thresholds for at their 2026/27 financial year level until April 2030, when they will increase annually by inflation.
The following analysis of the impact of freezing the repayment and interest thresholds to aid the decision:
Average Lifetime repayments (2024/25 financial year prices) | |||||
Baseline | Policy | Impact | |||
£ | % | ||||
Entire cohort | £27,000 | £28,300 | £1,300 | 5% | |
Average | |||||
Lifetime graduate earnings decile | 1 | £2,000 | £2,000 | £0 | 0% |
2 | £4,300 | £4,700 | £400 | 9% | |
3 | £7,700 | £8,100 | £400 | 5% | |
4 | £11,600 | £13,000 | £1,400 | 12% | |
5 | £16,900 | £18,500 | £1,600 | 9% | |
6 | £23,100 | £25,200 | £2,100 | 9% | |
7 | £31,300 | £33,600 | £2,300 | 7% | |
8 | £41,200 | £43,500 | £2,300 | 6% | |
9 | £54,500 | £56,100 | £1,600 | 3% | |
10 | £59,100 | £59,500 | £400 | 1% | |
We also do not hold the proportion of borrowers projected to repay of their student loan than the graduate earnings premium attributable to their degree.
Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the estimated total additional lifetime repayment cost of the Plan 2 threshold freeze announced in Autumn Budget 2025 is for borrowers earning at (a) £30,000, (b) £40,000, (c) £50,000, (d) £60,000, (e) £66,000, (f) £75,000 and (g) £90,000.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not hold estimates of lifetime repayment costs for Plan 2 borrowers by earnings bands.
The Autumn Budget included freezes to Plan 2 repayment and interest thresholds for at their 2026/27 financial year level until April 2030, when they will increase annually by inflation.
The following analysis of the impact of freezing the repayment and interest thresholds to aid the decision:
Average Lifetime repayments (2024/25 financial year prices) | |||||
Baseline | Policy | Impact | |||
£ | % | ||||
Entire cohort | £27,000 | £28,300 | £1,300 | 5% | |
Average | |||||
Lifetime graduate earnings decile | 1 | £2,000 | £2,000 | £0 | 0% |
2 | £4,300 | £4,700 | £400 | 9% | |
3 | £7,700 | £8,100 | £400 | 5% | |
4 | £11,600 | £13,000 | £1,400 | 12% | |
5 | £16,900 | £18,500 | £1,600 | 9% | |
6 | £23,100 | £25,200 | £2,100 | 9% | |
7 | £31,300 | £33,600 | £2,300 | 7% | |
8 | £41,200 | £43,500 | £2,300 | 6% | |
9 | £54,500 | £56,100 | £1,600 | 3% | |
10 | £59,100 | £59,500 | £400 | 1% | |
We also do not hold the proportion of borrowers projected to repay of their student loan than the graduate earnings premium attributable to their degree.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects to provide a response to the letter sent by the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough on 12th November 2025.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department attaches great importance to the handling of correspondence from parliamentarians. Correspondence often raises complex and serious concerns, as it has in this instance, and as a department we aim to provide high quality, tailored responses to the points raised. I can confirm that a response to the correspondence of 12 November 2025 from my hon. Friend, the Member for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough was sent on 17 March 2026.