Equality: Break Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster Excerpts

Wednesday 25th March 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

It is important to recognise the work that we are doing in tackling disadvantage. One of the key indicators is around preparedness for school. We know that too many young children are arriving at school unable to take part in the work that needs to be done. Obviously, indicators are just a form of progression. While we are doing a lot of work with early years, it is important that we focus on the children and young people who are in the system already and that we look at their trajectory against the exams. Through the curriculum review, we will be looking, for example, at attainment data and at all the different measures by which schools and individual young people are measured.

[Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Lab)]

My Lords, my noble friend the Minister speaks about the arrival of young children in primary school. Does she recognise the key role that school nurses and educational psychologists can play in delivering care to younger people and support and advice to families? Will she ensure that the Department of Health and regional and local health boards are involved in the strategy?