Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department’s announcement in March 2020 that the national standards for the provision of children’s advocacy services would be revised, when he plans for the public consultation on those revisions to be launched.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The government is committed to ensuring that advocacy services are improved for looked-after children and care leavers.
The commitment to consulting on a revised and fully updated version of the National Standards for the Provision of Children’s Advocacy Services is being taken forward and we intend to launch the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) mergers and (b) acquisitions have there been in the early years sector in each month since March 2020; and how many childcare providers on the early years register have those mergers and acquisitions involved.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The Department for Education does not hold the information requested.
Ofsted holds the Early Years Register and publishes data on joiners and leavers to that register on a monthly basis. Ofsted does not collect or publish information on the reasons given by early years providers for leaving the Early Years Register. The data on joiners and leavers is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joiners-and-leavers-in-the-childcare-sector.
According to Ofsted, providers can leave the Early Years register for a range of reasons. In the case of some mergers or acquisitions, nurseries may have to re-register with Ofsted.
The department is in regular contact with local authorities and the early years sector about the supply and demand of childcare in local areas. We will continue to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the early years sector.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish guidance on summer activities at least a week in advance of 21 June 2021 regardless of whether or not the next stage of easing covid-19 restrictions in England takes place on that date.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises the significant benefits that summer camps and other forms of education outside the classroom can have on children’s academic development as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
Since 17 May 2021, out-of-school settings, such as those offering residential summer camps, have been able to undertake overnight stays with children, in groups of six or two households (including at least one member of staff). From 21 June, out-of-school settings will be able to undertake residential visits and overnight stays can take place with groups of up to 30 children. The Department has provided updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which sets out how out-of-school settings can conduct residential visits safely.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has followed the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to handle the COVID-19 outbreak. As new evidence or data emerges, the Government will act accordingly to ensure that all out-of-school settings have the right safety measures in place, and that measures remain proportionate to the threat posed by COVID-19. The advice on residential visits will therefore be reviewed again in advance of Step 4 of the roadmap.
The Department is also working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Youth Agency to ensure the Government has full awareness of the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the youth sector. In response to youth sector engagement, dedicated youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency in collaboration with DCMS, the Department, youth sector organisations and public health experts.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to engage with the youth sector on the covid-19 rules for summer camps for children; and what steps can be taken to make summer camps covid-safe.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises the significant benefits that summer camps and other forms of education outside the classroom can have on children’s academic development as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
Since 17 May 2021, out-of-school settings, such as those offering residential summer camps, have been able to undertake overnight stays with children, in groups of six or two households (including at least one member of staff). From 21 June, out-of-school settings will be able to undertake residential visits and overnight stays can take place with groups of up to 30 children. The Department has provided updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which sets out how out-of-school settings can conduct residential visits safely.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has followed the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to handle the COVID-19 outbreak. As new evidence or data emerges, the Government will act accordingly to ensure that all out-of-school settings have the right safety measures in place, and that measures remain proportionate to the threat posed by COVID-19. The advice on residential visits will therefore be reviewed again in advance of Step 4 of the roadmap.
The Department is also working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Youth Agency to ensure the Government has full awareness of the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the youth sector. In response to youth sector engagement, dedicated youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency in collaboration with DCMS, the Department, youth sector organisations and public health experts.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the evidential basis is for the decision to allow non-residential summer camps where children return home between sessions to take place rather than covid-19 secure residential summer camps of more than 30 children.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises the significant benefits that summer camps and other forms of education outside the classroom can have on children’s academic development as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
Since 17 May 2021, out-of-school settings, such as those offering residential summer camps, have been able to undertake overnight stays with children, in groups of six or two households (including at least one member of staff). From 21 June, out-of-school settings will be able to undertake residential visits and overnight stays can take place with groups of up to 30 children. The Department has provided updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which sets out how out-of-school settings can conduct residential visits safely.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has followed the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to handle the COVID-19 outbreak. As new evidence or data emerges, the Government will act accordingly to ensure that all out-of-school settings have the right safety measures in place, and that measures remain proportionate to the threat posed by COVID-19. The advice on residential visits will therefore be reviewed again in advance of Step 4 of the roadmap.
The Department is also working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Youth Agency to ensure the Government has full awareness of the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the youth sector. In response to youth sector engagement, dedicated youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency in collaboration with DCMS, the Department, youth sector organisations and public health experts.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the scientific basis is for not permitting large residential summer camps for children where covid-19 social distancing measures, including pre-quarantine, are in place.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises the significant benefits that summer camps and other forms of education outside the classroom can have on children’s academic development as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
Since 17 May 2021, out-of-school settings, such as those offering residential summer camps, have been able to undertake overnight stays with children, in groups of six or two households (including at least one member of staff). From 21 June, out-of-school settings will be able to undertake residential visits and overnight stays can take place with groups of up to 30 children. The Department has provided updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which sets out how out-of-school settings can conduct residential visits safely.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has followed the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to handle the COVID-19 outbreak. As new evidence or data emerges, the Government will act accordingly to ensure that all out-of-school settings have the right safety measures in place, and that measures remain proportionate to the threat posed by COVID-19. The advice on residential visits will therefore be reviewed again in advance of Step 4 of the roadmap.
The Department is also working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Youth Agency to ensure the Government has full awareness of the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the youth sector. In response to youth sector engagement, dedicated youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency in collaboration with DCMS, the Department, youth sector organisations and public health experts.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to issue covid-19 social distancing guidance for youth groups organising summer activities; what criteria the Government is using to determine that guidance; and which organisations the Government is consulting on that guidance.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises the significant benefits that summer camps and other forms of education outside the classroom can have on children’s academic development as well as their mental health and wellbeing.
Since 17 May 2021, out-of-school settings, such as those offering residential summer camps, have been able to undertake overnight stays with children, in groups of six or two households (including at least one member of staff). From 21 June, out-of-school settings will be able to undertake residential visits and overnight stays can take place with groups of up to 30 children. The Department has provided updated guidance on protective measures for holiday or after school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the COVID-19 outbreak, which sets out how out-of-school settings can conduct residential visits safely.
Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government has followed the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies and its sub-groups when taking decisions on the best way to handle the COVID-19 outbreak. As new evidence or data emerges, the Government will act accordingly to ensure that all out-of-school settings have the right safety measures in place, and that measures remain proportionate to the threat posed by COVID-19. The advice on residential visits will therefore be reviewed again in advance of Step 4 of the roadmap.
The Department is also working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the National Youth Agency to ensure the Government has full awareness of the effect the COVID-19 outbreak has had on the youth sector. In response to youth sector engagement, dedicated youth sector COVID-19 guidance has been developed by the National Youth Agency in collaboration with DCMS, the Department, youth sector organisations and public health experts.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the (a) scientific and (b) medical evidential basis for the decision to restrict face-to-face teaching in universities until 17 May 2021.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
We have worked extremely closely with scientists and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to understand and model various scenarios to inform our plan to re-open the country without putting unsustainable pressure on the NHS. We have also examined economic and social data to get a balanced understanding of the impacts of carefully easing restrictions. The government has also carefully considered data on the impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on ethnic minority communities, the vulnerable, the young, and low-income groups.
The government considered all the scientific advice and models that suggested that allowing additional indoor mixing at an earlier stage when prevalence was higher and fewer people had been vaccinated could result in significantly higher numbers of infections and that is why restrictions outdoors were eased before restrictions on most indoor activity. As the number of people vaccinated increased, we have been able to take steps to ease restrictions further.
A wealth of data, papers and evidence is being published at the same time as the roadmap, to ensure transparency on the information the government has had available to it in reaching its decisions. This includes the following information from Public Health England:
The papers from SAGE include:
The return of students was not considered in isolation but as part of the government’s overall roadmap. All areas included in the roadmap (as well as higher education) are informed by advice from the scientific and medical experts. Additional papers published by SAGE in relation to Step 3 of the roadmap can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sage-meetings-may-2021.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that social care and support for disabled children and their families is included in the (a) the SEND review and (b) Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.
Answered by Vicky Ford
Both Reviews are taking a holistic response to the issues that these 2 systems face.
The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Review has listened carefully to children, young people, families and partners across education, health and care, and will be publishing proposals for consultation focused on identifying and addressing issues earlier and preparing for fulfilled adulthood through every stage. These measures will not only improve children and young people’s outcomes, and put them and their families at the heart of the SEND system, but they should deliver a SEND system fit for the future – high quality support, delivered affordably, and sustainable for the long term.
The Care Review is independent of the government with freedom to make recommendations based on the Reviewer’s findings. The scope is broad and will look at the whole system of support, safeguarding, protection and care, and the child’s journey into and out of that system. This will include children throughout their interaction with children’s social care, from referral, Child in Need and Child Protection Plans, through to becoming Looked After. The review terms of reference set out the questions and themes the review will consider. The terms of reference can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952624/terms_of_reference_independent_childrens_social_care_review.pdf.
Almost half of children in need within the children’s social care system are children with SEND, so there is a significant overlap between these Reviews, but there will be opportunities for the 2 reviews to feed into each other’s work.
Asked by: Tulip Siddiq (Labour - Hampstead and Kilburn)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average early years funding rate given to local authorities in England was for (a) two year olds and (b) three and four year olds in (i) 2017-18, (ii) 2018-19, (iii) 2019-20, (iv) 2020-21 and (v) 2021-22.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The table below shows the average early years hourly funding rate for 2 and 3 to 4 year olds.
| 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
2 year old average hourly funding rate | £5.40 | £5.40 | £5.40 | £5.48 | £5.56 |
3 to 4 year old average hourly funding rate | £4.76 | £4.75 | £4.75 | £4.83 | 4.88* |
*The vast majority of local authorities have seen an increase in their 3 to 4 year old average hourly funding rate of 6p an hour in 2021-22. Due to rounding, this is represented by an increase from £4.83 to £4.88 in the overall national average.
Calculations for the 3 to 4 year old hourly funding rate exclude supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools, the disability access fund and the early years pupil premium. The 3 to 4 year old hourly funding rate is an average across both universal hours and additional hours entitlements. The average for the 3 to 4 year old hourly funding rate in 2017-18 has been adjusted to reflect the fact that the additional hours entitlement was introduced in September 2017.
For 2020-21 and 2021-22 the average hourly funding rates are provisional and will depend on future attendance.
Average rates can be calculated from dedicated schools grant tables which can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2017-to-2018;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2019-to-2020;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2020-to-2021;
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2021-to-2022.