Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Liverpool Garston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 123752 on Childcare: Costs, what plans his Department has to carry out an up-to-date review of childcare costs in England.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The department’s long-standing annual Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers, capturing information from a sample of approximately 10,000 providers, is the main way in which the department collects robust, wide-ranging and up-to-date evidence on childcare providers in England. This year, the analytical programme will be enhanced with more detailed research on provider finances and childcare costs for 2-4 year olds. This will involve externally commissioned research with site visits to a representative sample of early years providers to provide us with robust, up-to-date evidence on childcare costs.
The most recent Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2016.
Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Liverpool Garston)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the future provision of academic A-levels in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
As a result of the recent merger between St Helens College and Knowsley Community College, brought about through Area Based Review, the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley will have A level provision restored through its delivery at the merged college (SK College Group) Knowsley campus from September 2018. The 2018/19 prospectus has been published, setting out the A levels available. The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) understands that the college has received 95 A level applications to date for the 2018/19 academic year.
The ESFA is working closely with Knowsley local authority, ensuring the implementation of ‘Knowsley Better Together’; the wider local plan for improving access to A levels in Knowsley.