Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average waiting time was to receive an EHCP assessment in (a) England and (b) Surrey during the latest 12 months for which data is available.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Information on the number and percentage of education, health and care (EHC) plans issued within the statutory 20 week deadline, with and without statutory exceptions to that deadline applying, is published as part of the statistical release, Education, Health and Care Plans – Reporting year 2024, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2025. The latest published figures relate to the 2024 calendar year and were published on 26 June 2025. Information for the 2025 calendar year will be published in summer 2026.
The number and proportion of plans issued within, and over, the statutory 20 week deadline, for England and Surrey during the 2024 calendar year can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/3512e185-e65b-4cd7-f98d-08de0724494a.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will introduce a national (a) training and (b) accreditation programme to allow the recognition of school staff with automated external defibrillator responsibilities as competent persons for equipment governance.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Defibrillators are designed so they can be used safely with no prior training. Users are prompted to follow step-by-step instructions on the device at the time of use. Suggesting only trained individuals can use defibrillators can unintentionally deter use in an emergency, where every minute is critical.
As defibrillators are designed to be used with no prior training, the department does not believe an accreditation programme is necessary.
Schools must ensure they comply with their first aid equipment responsibilities. The department provides defibrillator guidance to supports schools. The guidance is not intended to be read in isolation but provides schools with clear, practical, and accessible advice that supports the widespread adoption of defibrillators, including maintenance, as part of school first aid provision.
Schools can access additional support in managing their defibrillator by registering it on the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator network, The Circuit. The Circuit provides schools with regular reminders to check their device. More information can be found here: www.thecircuit.uk.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has been made of the potential impact of the recent increase in National Insurance on the provision of home to school transport for children with SEND.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Poole to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26397.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of provision of home to school transport for children with SEND.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for Poole to the answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80605.
Asked by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children of primary school age in September 2025 are waiting for an EHCP assessment.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department does not hold information on the number of children waiting for an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.
The department does collect and publish information from local authorities on the number of requests for an EHC needs assessment received, and the number of EHC needs assessments carried out during the calendar year. The latest published figures relate to the 2024 calendar year and were published 26 June 2025. Information for the 2025 calendar year will be published in summer 2026.
The number of requests for an EHC needs assessment which were outstanding at the end of the 2024 calendar year by age, is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/667cfd50-479e-4427-f991-08de0724494a.
The number of EHC needs assessments carried out where the outcome was outstanding at the end of the 2024 calendar year by age, is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/0713cf5f-cbc9-4957-f992-08de0724494a.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Independent - Poole)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number contracts of home to school transport for children with SEND that have been handed back to local authorities since April 2025.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Local authorities are responsible for arranging home to school travel for eligible children. They deliver their duty through a mix of in-house services, passes for free travel on public transport and contracts with private transport operators. Such contracts are a matter for the council and the operator, but we encourage councils to have robust arrangements in place.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to work with schools to (a) identify and (b) support pupils impacted by homelessness or temporary accommodation.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
On 10 October, the government announced £10.9 million in funding for ‘Supporting Children Experiencing Homelessness’ via the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2025/26. The funding has been allocated to 61 local authorities with the highest numbers of children in temporary accommodation to increase access to support and services for families and to make a tangible impact on their quality of life whilst they remain in need. The funding is intended to deliver positive benefits to children’s education outcomes and can include interventions such as travel to school, school uniforms and equipment, and the improvement of communal spaces to enable children to complete homework.
‘Keeping children safe in education 2025’ (KCSIE) is the statutory guidance to which schools and colleges in England must have regard when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
KCSIE outlines that school and college staff are in a position to identify concerns early, provide help for children, promote children’s welfare and prevent concerns from escalating, and that all staff have a responsibility to provide a safe environment in which children can learn.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press release entitled Government delivers thousands more school-based nursery places, published on 4 September 2025, how many and what proportion of the extra school-based nursery places will be in Huntingdon constituency.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
High quality early years is central to our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity, give every child the best possible start in life and is essential to our Plan for Change. The government is boosting availability and access through the school-based nurseries programme, supporting school led provision and private, voluntary and independent providers and childminders operating from school sites.
Phase 1 is already delivering results, with £37 million successfully awarded to 300 primary phase schools creating up to 6,000 new childcare places. Applications were assessed based on a range of factors.
No applications for Huntingdon were awarded. However, building on phase 1, phase 2 of the school-based nursery programme launched on September 4, with a stronger focus on supporting families from disadvantaged areas. Primary schools and maintained nursery schools, including those in Huntingdon, have until 5pm on 11 December to apply for up to £150,000 from a £45 million fund, with capacity to deliver at least another 300 new or expanded school-based nurseries, offering up to 7,000 more places from September 2026.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that adult (a) mental health services and (b) social care are involved in improving information-sharing through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
No discussions have been had regarding either aspect. The focus in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is to improve information sharing by introducing a consistent identifier for children up to the age of 18. We will consider the role both the adult and child identifiers can play in the transition to adulthood as this work moves forward.
Asked by: Anna Dixon (Labour - Shipley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she next plans to review the Children (Performance and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government recognises the need to review the Children (Performance and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, and we are committed to doing so. This will require careful consideration of how such a review might best be conducted to ensure that children are able to continue to access positive performance opportunities in the future, while also making sure that their safety, wellbeing and best interests are protected.