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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Jun 2019
Education Funding

"Thank you, Mr Hollobone. I intend to be brief, so the Minister could probably have finished his speech. I would like to thank all the Members who have taken the trouble to come along to the debate. Westminster Hall debates are often difficult if only the Minister is present. I …..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Education Funding
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Jun 2019
Education Funding

"I appreciate that, and I hope that my schools will feel the benefit. I would be very surprised if they are as grateful as some might expect them to be. I reiterate that education is the most important gift that we can give people. Sadly, historically, too many people living …..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Education Funding
Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 11th March 2019

Asked by: Gordon Henderson (Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey)

Question to the Department for Education:

What recent progress his Department has made on helping families to access childcare.

Answered by Nadhim Zahawi

By 2020 this government will be spending £6 billion on supporting families with childcare. All 3 and 4 year olds, and the most disadvantaged 2 year olds, can access 15 hours a week of early education. From September 2017, this government doubled the childcare entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds to 30 hours a week.

We recognise that parents’ working patterns vary significantly and want to ensure that the free entitlements deliver childcare to meet their needs, as well as being high quality early education to support the development needs of children. We are also encouraging partnerships between providers to support flexible provision.

In particular, we want 30 hours to continue to build on the flexible provision that we were already seeing across the country with the universal 15 hours. All the free entitlements can be “stretched” by taking fewer hours per week over up to 52 weeks of the year to cover term-time and the school holidays, for example 23 hours for 48 weeks of the year, and free places can be delivered at weekends.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered cared-for children educated out of area.

It is a delight to see you in the Chair, Mr Hollobone. I should first explain, for those who may know them by another name, that cared-for children are the same as looked-after children—so if …..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"I fully agree with my hon. Friend—he is my friend—that that is a problem. He is right that there are other solutions, one of which is to increase the funds available to local authorities so that they can pay more to keep children in their own areas.

As I was …..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"I welcome that initiative—it is very good—but the problem with it is that it only relates to people who are known to be in that category, and ignores the hidden youngsters who never reach that stage...."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"If it is the case that there are children who should be placed further from home, why is there a protocol that says local authorities should not be sending them further than 20 miles away?..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"That does not explain why the number of out-of-area looked-after children in my constituency and neighbouring constituencies increased by 30% over the past year. That simply does not equate with what the Minister is saying...."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"I accept that: that is the point that I am making. Those children are being placed by other authorities way outside their areas, not for the children’s benefit, but to save money by getting the cheapest possible foster care. That is immoral...."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 04 Dec 2018
Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children

"Once again, I agree with the Minister. However, he has re-emphasised the problem: secondary schools in my constituency are already overflowing. There are not enough places for all the home-grown children, so we have a problem when out-of-county looked-after children are moved into our area. There are no places, but …..."
Gordon Henderson - View Speech

View all Gordon Henderson (Con - Sittingbourne and Sheppey) contributions to the debate on: Out-of-area Education: Cared-for Children