Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what engagement was carried out with schools before the changes to school’s sport premium were made.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
In June 2025 the government announced the introduction of a partnerships network to support schools to consistently deliver high-quality experiences in PE, sport, and physical activity for all children with a particular focus on those that are less active. To inform policy development and fully understand schools' support needs, the department has worked with sector organisations and representative bodies before launching the procurement to identify a delivery partner.
The department recognises the importance of supporting schools through the transition from Sports Premium Funding to the Partnership Network and has engaged with sector representatives to identify additional support that may be required. In response to concerns raised by schools, we increased the transitional PE premium payment to £150 million. We will publish guidance and conditions of grant this autumn to help schools prepare for the changes and are continuing to work with stakeholders on this.
Once the new National Delivery Partner is in place, engagement across the school-age childcare sector will continue to monitor and mitigate any impacts on providers; which will include regular assessments and input from the sector to inform delivery and provide the support which schools need.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department made of the potential impact of changes to sports premium funding on a) wraparound childcare, b) enrichment provision, and c) the external workforce that supports school’s provision of physical education.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
In June 2025 the government announced the introduction of a partnerships network to support schools to consistently deliver high-quality experiences in PE, sport, and physical activity for all children with a particular focus on those that are less active. To inform policy development and fully understand schools' support needs, the department has worked with sector organisations and representative bodies before launching the procurement to identify a delivery partner.
The department recognises the importance of supporting schools through the transition from Sports Premium Funding to the Partnership Network and has engaged with sector representatives to identify additional support that may be required. In response to concerns raised by schools, we increased the transitional PE premium payment to £150 million. We will publish guidance and conditions of grant this autumn to help schools prepare for the changes and are continuing to work with stakeholders on this.
Once the new National Delivery Partner is in place, engagement across the school-age childcare sector will continue to monitor and mitigate any impacts on providers; which will include regular assessments and input from the sector to inform delivery and provide the support which schools need.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changing the Primary Physical Education and Sport Premium arrangements partway at the beginning September 2026 on schools' ability to plan ahead.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
In June 2025 the government announced the introduction of a partnerships network to support schools to consistently deliver high-quality experiences in PE, sport, and physical activity for all children with a particular focus on those that are less active. To inform policy development and fully understand schools' support needs, the department has worked with sector organisations and representative bodies before launching the procurement to identify a delivery partner.
The department recognises the importance of supporting schools through the transition from Sports Premium Funding to the Partnership Network and has engaged with sector representatives to identify additional support that may be required. In response to concerns raised by schools, we increased the transitional PE premium payment to £150 million. We will publish guidance and conditions of grant this autumn to help schools prepare for the changes and are continuing to work with stakeholders on this.
Once the new National Delivery Partner is in place, engagement across the school-age childcare sector will continue to monitor and mitigate any impacts on providers; which will include regular assessments and input from the sector to inform delivery and provide the support which schools need.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has given schools on how a) physical education, b) school sport, and c) physical activity will be supported during the 2026/2027 academic year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
In June 2025 the government announced the introduction of a partnerships network to support schools to consistently deliver high-quality experiences in PE, sport, and physical activity for all children with a particular focus on those that are less active. To inform policy development and fully understand schools' support needs, the department has worked with sector organisations and representative bodies before launching the procurement to identify a delivery partner.
The department recognises the importance of supporting schools through the transition from Sports Premium Funding to the Partnership Network and has engaged with sector representatives to identify additional support that may be required. In response to concerns raised by schools, we increased the transitional PE premium payment to £150 million. We will publish guidance and conditions of grant this autumn to help schools prepare for the changes and are continuing to work with stakeholders on this.
Once the new National Delivery Partner is in place, engagement across the school-age childcare sector will continue to monitor and mitigate any impacts on providers; which will include regular assessments and input from the sector to inform delivery and provide the support which schools need.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the gap in attainment between disadvantaged students and their peers across schools in Frome and East Somerset.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ white paper establishes our plan to improve outcomes for all children across all constituencies. We recognise that poverty can have a significant impact on children's attainment and life chances, and tackling child poverty is central to the government's work to break down barriers to opportunity. When children born under this government finish secondary school, it is our ambition that the key stage 4 disadvantage gap will be halved.
The department’s approach is comprehensive and includes rebuilding early family support and improving teacher recruitment and retention, so that every child benefits from high-quality teaching. Further measures include broadening the curriculum and enabling access to high-quality enrichment, as well as launching two place-based missions to drive improvement in areas where outcomes remain stubbornly low.
We will introduce government funded pupil premium strategy reviews for schools that need additional support. These targeted reviews will equip school leaders to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered revising student finance regulations so that only the income of a student’s biological or legally responsible parents is taken into account when determining maintenance loan entitlement.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the fairness of including the income of a non-biological step-parent in household income calculations for student finance eligibility.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of uncertainty around future sport funding on schools’ ability to plan provision for the 2026–27 academic year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has for the continuation of the Primary PE and Sport Premium for the 2026–27 academic year.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to retain ring-fenced funding for physical education and physical activity in primary schools.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.