Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the safety valve agreement, and of its impact in the local authorities where such agreements have been made.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Safety Valve agreements were only entered into if the local authority and the department’s expert advisers agreed that the proposals would improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) whilst enabling local authorities to meet their statutory obligations. Safety Valve agreements do not in any way release local authorities from their obligation to fulfil their statutory duties to children and young people with SEND.
The department is also conducting a research project into the impact of Safety Valves in local areas. This will help us further understand the experience of children, parents, carers and schools.
The department has confirmed that it will not enter into any more Safety Valve agreements for councils that have financial deficits, pending wider reform of the whole system to prioritise early intervention, properly supporting councils to bring their finances under control. We will will continue to work with local authorities that have Safety Valve agreements with the department, to deliver their plans.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the most vulnerable pupils with special educational needs in local authorities where a safety valve agreement has been made; and how they propose to minimise this impact.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Safety Valve agreements were only entered into if the local authority and the department’s expert advisers agreed that the proposals would improve services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) whilst enabling local authorities to meet their statutory obligations. Safety Valve agreements do not in any way release local authorities from their obligation to fulfil their statutory duties to children and young people with SEND.
The department is also conducting a research project into the impact of Safety Valves in local areas. This will help us further understand the experience of children, parents, carers and schools.
The department has confirmed that it will not enter into any more Safety Valve agreements for councils that have financial deficits, pending wider reform of the whole system to prioritise early intervention, properly supporting councils to bring their finances under control. We will will continue to work with local authorities that have Safety Valve agreements with the department, to deliver their plans.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefit of forest schools and similar nature-focused learning for child development.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
Forest schools provide children with frequent opportunities for outdoor play and exploration.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all early years providers must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life.
The EYFS framework states that providers must provide access to an outdoor play area. If that is not possible, they must ensure that outdoor activities are planned and taken on a daily basis, unless circumstances make this inappropriate, for example unsafe weather conditions. The EYFS framework also specifies that young children should develop positive values towards the environment and the natural world.
By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, such as in larger parks and spaces in the local area or through forest schools, adults can support children to develop in a number of areas, including core strength, stability, balance and spatial awareness.
The department is committed to supporting all early years settings to deliver the EYFS well, for the benefit of all children.