Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many childcare places for disadvantaged two year olds have been created since September 2013.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The Department for Education does not hold information on how many childcare places for disadvantaged two-year-olds have been created since September 2013. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that every eligible child, whose parents want a childcare place, is able to take one. We are reforming the early education market so that places are both more affordable and accessible. We are encouraging more schools to provide places for two-year-olds, including as part of an offer of provision between 8am and 6pm. The introduction of childminder agencies will also provide a new way for parents to find places that are suited to their needs.
Asked by: Lord Walney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of additional catering staff needed in schools to deliver the extension of free school meals to all pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 in September 2014.
Answered by David Laws
This information is not held centrally.
In his autumn statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced over £1 billion revenue funding for universal free school meals for pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2 between 2014 and 2016. This funding, which includes special provision of £22.5 million for small schools in 2014-15, will be used by schools to pay for the cost of producing school lunches for newly eligible pupils, including any additional staff required.