Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 9 November 2022 to Questions 79339 and 79340 on Schools: Gender Recognition, if she will provide a separate Answer to Question 79339.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department knows that issues around gender can be sensitive for schools. The Department expects schools to prioritise individual pupils’ wellbeing in these matters. Schools are responsible for making decisions in line with their legal duties, but the circumstances of each case will differ, and the Department cannot comment on individual cases.
The current service specification for the Gender Identity Development Service states that referrals can be made by staff in schools and colleges. NHSE are currently consulting on a new interim service specification, and one of the proposed changes is that referrals may be made by GPs and NHS professionals only.
The Department is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders to develop guidance for schools, including the Department of Health and Social Care and NHSE. The Department will also consider the outcomes of Dr Cass’s independent review, so that its guidance is aligned with policy across Government to ensure children and young people get the best possible support. The Department will be undertaking a full public consultation on the draft guidance before publishing in 2023.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to schools on supporting transgender children; what her Department's policy is on support for social transition within the school and other forms of affirming support for those children; and if she will make an assessment of the potential liability to which a school could be subject to in the event that a child who has received such support later decides to detransition and seek redress.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Currently, National Health Service England’s (NHSE’s) policy permits the Gender Identity Development Service to accept referrals from education professionals, as well as health and social care professionals. It is for schools to make decisions on these matters on a case-by-case basis, within the NHSE's guidelines.
NHSE is currently consulting on a new interim service specification for children’s gender identity services, which proposes to change the referral pathway so only GPs and healthcare professionals can make referrals to these specialist services. The consultation closes on 4 December 2022. Further details are available here: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/specialised-commissioning/gender-dysphoria-services/.
The Department knows that issues around gender can be sensitive and complex for schools to navigate, which is why we are developing guidance to help schools to support pupils.
To develop the content of the guidance, Departmental officials are engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHSE and will be undertaking a public consultation on the draft guidance before publishing in 2023.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's policy is on the referral by schools of children identifying as transgender to third party agencies, including those which offer assistance with medical transition; what guidance her Department offers to schools on such referrals; and if she will make an assessment of the potential liabilities to which a school that makes such a referral could be subject to in the event that those children subsequently decide to detransition.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Currently, National Health Service England’s (NHSE’s) policy permits the Gender Identity Development Service to accept referrals from education professionals, as well as health and social care professionals. It is for schools to make decisions on these matters on a case-by-case basis, within the NHSE's guidelines.
NHSE is currently consulting on a new interim service specification for children’s gender identity services, which proposes to change the referral pathway so only GPs and healthcare professionals can make referrals to these specialist services. The consultation closes on 4 December 2022. Further details are available here: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/specialised-commissioning/gender-dysphoria-services/.
The Department knows that issues around gender can be sensitive and complex for schools to navigate, which is why we are developing guidance to help schools to support pupils.
To develop the content of the guidance, Departmental officials are engaging with the Department of Health and Social Care and NHSE and will be undertaking a public consultation on the draft guidance before publishing in 2023.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to close the learning gap between boys and girls.
Answered by Nick Gibb
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Workington, to the answer I gave on 21 June 2021 to Question 10325.
Asked by: Mark Jenkinson (Conservative - Workington)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that information on a pupil's (a) family status and (b) known issues at home are routinely transferred from primary to secondary school.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) is statutory guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Following Government consultation, this guidance has recently been strengthened to provide schools and colleges with even more detailed advice. Details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.
KCSIE sets out that all concerns, discussions and decisions made, and the reasons for those decisions, should be recorded in writing. Information should be kept confidential and stored securely. It is good practice to keep concerns and referrals in a separate child protection file for each child. Records should include a clear and comprehensive summary of the concern, details of how the concern was followed up and resolved, and a note of any action taken, decisions reached and the outcome. The designated safeguarding lead is responsible for the maintenance and transfer of child protection files.
KCSIE is clear that where children leave a school or college, including in-year transfers, the designated safeguarding lead should ensure that their child protection file is transferred to the new school or college as soon as possible, and within five days for an in-year transfer or within the first five days of the start of a new term. This should be transferred separately from the main pupil file, ensuring secure transit, and confirmation of receipt should be obtained. In addition to the child protection file, the designated safeguarding lead should also consider whether it would be appropriate to share any additional information with the new school or college in advance of a child leaving, to help them put in place the right support to safeguard the child.