Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Edward Timpson and Lucy Frazer

Monday 19th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Edward Timpson]

I welcome my hon. Friend’s private Member’s Bill and have a lot of sympathy for the cause it enshrines. I can commit to a consultation early in the new year, and I know that he and others who are interested in this issue will want to contribute.

[Lucy Frazer (South East Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to support teachers in improving educational outcomes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Edward Timpson and Lucy Frazer

Monday 7th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer (South East Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

On Friday, I had the opportunity to meet representatives of Blue Smile, a local charity in Cambridgeshire that makes provision for those suffering from mental health issues. I was told that many schools use their pupil premium for the services of Blue Smile to help to deal with mental health issues in their schools. Does the Minister agree that the provision of mental health services in schools to solve issues at a very early stage is crucial?

[Edward Timpson]

My hon. and learned Friend is right to highlight the importance of establishing as early as possible the underlying causes of a child’s ability or inability to learn in school, which can be a result of emotional and mental health issues. That is why some schools are being extremely innovative about how they access pupil premium money to offer individual support to those children so that they are able to be in the best space possible to learn to the best of their ability.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Edward Timpson and Lucy Frazer

Monday 25th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer (South East Cambridgeshire) (Con)]

17. What steps the Government are taking to keep children safe online at school and at home.

[The Minister for Children and Families (Edward Timpson)]

Schools, internet providers and parents all have a role to play in keeping children safe online. All schools must have regard to the statutory guidance, “Keeping children safe in education”, when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote children’s welfare. Every school is required by law to have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying, including cyber-bullying, and e-safety has been a statutory requirement in the computing curriculum since September 2014.

[Lucy Frazer]

I am very grateful to the Minister for that response because this is key. The Education Committee recently heard from a number of children in care, who raised the issue of the internet and safety on the internet, particularly in relation to self-harm. We heard that when someone types “self-harm” into Tumblr, they get a message of support and are directed to particular websites that will help them. Will the Minister encourage other social media sites to do the same?