Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will increase funding for Sure Start in the next Budget.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Local authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there are sufficient Sure Start children’s centres to meet the needs of local families. Funding for children’s services (including children’s centres) is made available through the local government finance settlement. In addition, other government funding, including that for public health, adult skills training and troubled families may also be used locally to support services delivered wholly, or in part, through children’s centres. Children’s services funding for 2020-21 and beyond will be determined in the Spending Review.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Government will bring forward plans to reduce university tuition fees to £7,500.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The independent panel’s report to government forms an important step in the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding. The government will consider the panel’s recommendations carefully and will conclude the review at the Spending Review. The government has not yet taken decisions with regards to the recommendations put forward.
Asked by: Faisal Rashid (Labour - Warrington South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making yoga available as part of the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Department for Education recognises the benefits that activities such as yoga and meditation can have on promoting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and in helping the building of character. The department has no plans to review the national curriculum. It will remain up to schools to decide what specific activities to offer to their pupils.
Schools are free to organise and deliver a diverse and challenging curriculum that suits the needs of all of their pupils. Pupils can participate in yoga as part of the PE curriculum, which is designed to ensure that all pupils develop competence to excel in a broad range of physical activities, are physically active for sustained periods of time and lead healthy and active lives.