Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what data they hold on (1) the numbers of children who are handcuffed whilst in the care of local government and not charged with or convicted of any offence, and (2) the reasons for such restraints being used.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Legislation is in place to ensure that the use of restraint in respect of looked-after children is used in very limited circumstances and must be necessary and proportionate. Under the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations (2015), all incidents of restraint when a young person is cared for by a children’s home must be recorded.
Regulation 20(1) states that the only purposes for which restraint can be used in a children's home are to prevent injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained) or to prevent serious damage to the property of any person. In addition, restraint may be used on a child in a secure children's home for the purpose of preventing a child from absconding from the home. Regulation 20(2) states that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.
Similar regulations apply to children in foster care. Regulation 13(2)(b) of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 states that fostering service providers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no child placed with a foster parent is subject to any measure of control, restraint or discipline which is excessive or unreasonable.
Ofsted regularly inspect all children’s homes in England to ensure they are complying with their legal duties, which include detailing incidents of restraint. Ofsted also inspects local authorities’ fostering services and independent fostering agencies to ensure they are meeting their duties and responsibilities. The department does not collect data on the use of handcuffs for children in the care system.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the handcuffing of children in the care of local government and who are not charged with or convicted of any offence; and what plans they have, if any, to review that policy.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Legislation is in place to ensure that the use of restraint in respect of looked-after children is used in very limited circumstances and must be necessary and proportionate. Under the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations (2015), all incidents of restraint when a young person is cared for by a children’s home must be recorded.
Regulation 20(1) states that the only purposes for which restraint can be used in a children's home are to prevent injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained) or to prevent serious damage to the property of any person. In addition, restraint may be used on a child in a secure children's home for the purpose of preventing a child from absconding from the home. Regulation 20(2) states that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.
Similar regulations apply to children in foster care. Regulation 13(2)(b) of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 states that fostering service providers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no child placed with a foster parent is subject to any measure of control, restraint or discipline which is excessive or unreasonable.
Ofsted regularly inspect all children’s homes in England to ensure they are complying with their legal duties, which include detailing incidents of restraint. Ofsted also inspects local authorities’ fostering services and independent fostering agencies to ensure they are meeting their duties and responsibilities. The department does not collect data on the use of handcuffs for children in the care system.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article 'Children in care as young eleven handcuffed like 'dangerous animals' published by the Sunday Express on 27 June; and what steps they intend to take in response to the claim that children in the care of local government, who are not charged with or convicted of any offence, are routinely being handcuffed.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Legislation is in place to ensure that the use of restraint in respect of looked-after children is used in very limited circumstances and must be necessary and proportionate. Under the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations (2015), all incidents of restraint when a young person is cared for by a children’s home must be recorded.
Regulation 20(1) states that the only purposes for which restraint can be used in a children's home are to prevent injury to any person (including the child who is being restrained) or to prevent serious damage to the property of any person. In addition, restraint may be used on a child in a secure children's home for the purpose of preventing a child from absconding from the home. Regulation 20(2) states that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.
Similar regulations apply to children in foster care. Regulation 13(2)(b) of the Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 states that fostering service providers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that no child placed with a foster parent is subject to any measure of control, restraint or discipline which is excessive or unreasonable.
Ofsted regularly inspect all children’s homes in England to ensure they are complying with their legal duties, which include detailing incidents of restraint. Ofsted also inspects local authorities’ fostering services and independent fostering agencies to ensure they are meeting their duties and responsibilities. The department does not collect data on the use of handcuffs for children in the care system.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether all guidance provided by the PHSE Association to schools, including the resources produced by other organisations recommended in that guidance, is in line with (1) the law, and (2) the current advice issued by the Department for Education.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department does not comment on resources from subject associations or other providers. The statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance sets out clear advice on choosing resources: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education. Schools should assess each resource they intend to use, to ensure that it is appropriate for the age and maturity of pupils, and sensitive to their needs.
The RSHE guidance and training resources have been designed to equip all schools to provide comprehensive teaching in these areas in an age-appropriate way. The guidance and materials should give schools the confidence to construct a curriculum that meets the needs of their pupils and reflects a diversity of views and backgrounds, whilst fostering all pupils’ respect for others, understanding of healthy relationships, and ability to look after their own wellbeing.
The department expects schools to consult with parents and to make reasonable decisions about the content of their curriculum.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with organisations which work with care leavers to discuss access to digital devices and the internet.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
In April 2020, the government invested £100 million into laptops and 4G wireless routers for disadvantaged students to enable them to engage in remote learning. This was also made available for children with a social worker and care leavers, to improve digital access to support and services. The department has so far delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets, and over 50,000 routers to local authorities to distribute to vulnerable children and young people in their local areas.
Of these devices, 148,000 have been provided specifically to children with a social worker and care leavers and the guidance issued to local authorities identified care leavers as a priority group. Responsibility for identifying which young people require devices lies with local authorities. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-provided-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
These devices are an important injection of support from the government for care leavers who are at greater risk of isolation and, alongside many excellent local initiatives, have helped to improve digital access for this cohort.
All local authorities have a duty to consult on and publish a local offer for their care leavers. This includes care leavers’ statutory entitlements, as well as any discretionary support and services that the local authority chooses to provide. Some local authorities have included supplying mobile phones, data packages or other forms of digital access for their care leavers during the COVID-19 outbreak, and may consider making this part of their local offer going forward.
Mark Riddell, the government’s National Adviser for care leavers, and departmental officials from the Care Leavers Policy Team are actively engaged with the organisations campaigning for better digital access for care leavers.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that all services provided by local authorities for care leavers include access to a digital device and the internet.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
In April 2020, the government invested £100 million into laptops and 4G wireless routers for disadvantaged students to enable them to engage in remote learning. This was also made available for children with a social worker and care leavers, to improve digital access to support and services. The department has so far delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets, and over 50,000 routers to local authorities to distribute to vulnerable children and young people in their local areas.
Of these devices, 148,000 have been provided specifically to children with a social worker and care leavers and the guidance issued to local authorities identified care leavers as a priority group. Responsibility for identifying which young people require devices lies with local authorities. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-provided-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
These devices are an important injection of support from the government for care leavers who are at greater risk of isolation and, alongside many excellent local initiatives, have helped to improve digital access for this cohort.
All local authorities have a duty to consult on and publish a local offer for their care leavers. This includes care leavers’ statutory entitlements, as well as any discretionary support and services that the local authority chooses to provide. Some local authorities have included supplying mobile phones, data packages or other forms of digital access for their care leavers during the COVID-19 outbreak, and may consider making this part of their local offer going forward.
Mark Riddell, the government’s National Adviser for care leavers, and departmental officials from the Care Leavers Policy Team are actively engaged with the organisations campaigning for better digital access for care leavers.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure every care leaver in England has access to a digital device and the internet for at least 12 months when they first live independently.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
In April 2020, the government invested £100 million into laptops and 4G wireless routers for disadvantaged students to enable them to engage in remote learning. This was also made available for children with a social worker and care leavers, to improve digital access to support and services. The department has so far delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets, and over 50,000 routers to local authorities to distribute to vulnerable children and young people in their local areas.
Of these devices, 148,000 have been provided specifically to children with a social worker and care leavers and the guidance issued to local authorities identified care leavers as a priority group. Responsibility for identifying which young people require devices lies with local authorities. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-provided-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
These devices are an important injection of support from the government for care leavers who are at greater risk of isolation and, alongside many excellent local initiatives, have helped to improve digital access for this cohort.
All local authorities have a duty to consult on and publish a local offer for their care leavers. This includes care leavers’ statutory entitlements, as well as any discretionary support and services that the local authority chooses to provide. Some local authorities have included supplying mobile phones, data packages or other forms of digital access for their care leavers during the COVID-19 outbreak, and may consider making this part of their local offer going forward.
Mark Riddell, the government’s National Adviser for care leavers, and departmental officials from the Care Leavers Policy Team are actively engaged with the organisations campaigning for better digital access for care leavers.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve the uptake of their scheme to provide digital devices and internet access for care leavers.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
In April 2020, the government invested £100 million into laptops and 4G wireless routers for disadvantaged students to enable them to engage in remote learning. This was also made available for children with a social worker and care leavers, to improve digital access to support and services. The department has so far delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets, and over 50,000 routers to local authorities to distribute to vulnerable children and young people in their local areas.
Of these devices, 148,000 have been provided specifically to children with a social worker and care leavers and the guidance issued to local authorities identified care leavers as a priority group. Responsibility for identifying which young people require devices lies with local authorities. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-provided-during-coronavirus-covid-19.
These devices are an important injection of support from the government for care leavers who are at greater risk of isolation and, alongside many excellent local initiatives, have helped to improve digital access for this cohort.
All local authorities have a duty to consult on and publish a local offer for their care leavers. This includes care leavers’ statutory entitlements, as well as any discretionary support and services that the local authority chooses to provide. Some local authorities have included supplying mobile phones, data packages or other forms of digital access for their care leavers during the COVID-19 outbreak, and may consider making this part of their local offer going forward.
Mark Riddell, the government’s National Adviser for care leavers, and departmental officials from the Care Leavers Policy Team are actively engaged with the organisations campaigning for better digital access for care leavers.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all resources recommended or promoted for use by schools by the Department for Education are checked for compliance with (1) safeguarding procedures, (2) the Equality Act 2010, (3) the Public Sector Equality Duty, and (4) the statutory guidance on Relationship Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
We want to support all young people to be happy, healthy, and safe. We also want to equip them for adult life and to make a positive contribution to society. That is why we are making Relationships Education compulsory for primary school-aged pupils, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) compulsory for secondary school-aged pupils, and Health Education compulsory for pupils in all state-funded schools from September 2020.
In light of the circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and following engagement with the sector, the department is reassuring schools that although the subjects will still be compulsory from 1 September 2020, schools have flexibility over how they discharge their duty within the first year of compulsory teaching.
The safety of children is our top priority. We expect all schools to ensure that the materials and teaching resources they use are appropriate, and to ensure that they comply with their statutory duty to safeguard children’s welfare. The statutory guidance sets out clear advice on choosing resources. Schools should assess each resource they intend to use to ensure that it is appropriate for the age and maturity of pupils, and sensitive to their needs, where relevant.
The department does not recommend specific resources but has suggested resources for schools to consider as set out in Annex B of the statutory guidance. We encourage schools to use resources that have been quality assured by reputable organisations, such as the NSPCC on safeguarding issues. The department will be providing further advice to schools on choosing appropriate resources and is developing teacher training modules for these subjects, which the department has quality assured and recommends.
Schools must consult with parents on the school’s RSE policy. Schools should also ensure that, when they engage parents, they provide examples of the resources they plan to use, for example the books or materials they will use in lessons. The statutory guidance can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.
In covering the content of the new subjects, the guidance also sets out schools’ duty to comply with relevant requirements of the Equality Act 2010 including the Public Sector Equality Duty. Schools should also be aware of their duties regarding impartiality and balanced treatment of political issues in the classroom to ensure content is handled in an appropriate way.
At the heart of these subjects there is a focus on keeping children safe, and schools can play an important role in preventative education. Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) sets out that all schools and colleges should ensure children are taught about safeguarding, including how to stay safe online, as part of providing a broad and balanced curriculum. The guidance can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the process being adopted by Ofqual for exceptional arrangements for awarding calculated grades in GCSEs, AS and A Levels takes sufficient account of recent improvement trends in the educational establishment the student is from.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Ofqual conducted a public consultation from 15-29 April, seeking views on aspects of the proposed assessment arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels, including standardisation of centre assessment grades. Ofqual received over 12,500 responses to their consultation, and on 22 May they published their decisions.
Ofqual have decided not to include the trajectory of exam centres’ results in the statistical standardisation process. This is due to potential unfairness caused by the unreliability of any trajectory predictions and the disadvantage that this might cause students in those centres with stable results.
Whilst this is a matter for Ofqual as the independent regulator of qualifications, I am satisfied that Ofqual’s approach is the best solution given these extraordinary circumstances.