Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of mechanisms provided by local authorities for families to submit evidence of financial hardship when (a) applying for and (b) appealing decisions relating to post-16 home-to-school transport for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is for local authorities to determine the transport and travel support necessary to enable young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to participate in education or training. Local authorities must publish an annual post-16 policy statement setting out these arrangements.
The department recognises that transport costs can be a significant concern for families and local authorities should clearly explain the support they provide, how decisions are made and the routes for applications, complaints and appeals.
Through the government’s SEND reforms, the department’s target is for more children and young people to have their needs met through high-quality, inclusive provision closer to home. Improving the availability and consistency of local provision should enable more young people with SEND to access suitable education locally, thereby reducing the need for some to travel longer distances and incurring additional costs.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to undertake a review of post-16 transport policies for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans to determine the impact of transport costs on eligible learners' ability to access education under current arrangements.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is for local authorities to determine the transport and travel support necessary to enable young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to participate in education or training. Local authorities must publish an annual post-16 policy statement setting out these arrangements.
The department recognises that transport costs can be a significant concern for families and local authorities should clearly explain the support they provide, how decisions are made and the routes for applications, complaints and appeals.
Through the government’s SEND reforms, the department’s target is for more children and young people to have their needs met through high-quality, inclusive provision closer to home. Improving the availability and consistency of local provision should enable more young people with SEND to access suitable education locally, thereby reducing the need for some to travel longer distances and incurring additional costs.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities comply with (a) requirements that transport arrangements for post-16 learners with special educational needs and disabilities do not place unreasonable financial barriers on access to education and (b) other statutory guidance under section 508F of the Education Act 1996.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that transport arrangements enable young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access education and training.
Local authorities are responsible for determining what post-16 transport and financial support is necessary and must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance. In doing so, councils must act reasonably, consider all relevant matters and specifically consider the needs of young people with SEND.
Local authority transport policy statements must clearly explain how a young person or parent can appeal if they disagree with a transport decision, as well as the further avenues of complaint available if they remain dissatisfied after the local process has been completed.
The department undertakes annual compliance checks of local authority transport policy statements and keeps the statutory guidance under review. The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the consistency or adequacy of arrangements made by local authorities for collecting and considering evidence of financial hardship.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will conduct a review of the potential impact on families of local authority post-16 SEND transport policies that refuse transport if exceptional financial hardship is not demonstrated but provide no means-testing process, financial assessment form, or opportunity to submit such evidence.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that transport arrangements enable young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access education and training.
Local authorities are responsible for determining what post-16 transport and financial support is necessary and must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance. In doing so, councils must act reasonably, consider all relevant matters and specifically consider the needs of young people with SEND.
Local authority transport policy statements must clearly explain how a young person or parent can appeal if they disagree with a transport decision, as well as the further avenues of complaint available if they remain dissatisfied after the local process has been completed.
The department undertakes annual compliance checks of local authority transport policy statements and keeps the statutory guidance under review. The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the consistency or adequacy of arrangements made by local authorities for collecting and considering evidence of financial hardship.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the consistency of post-16 SEND transport appeal procedures used by local authorities; and whether she plans to issue guidance to authorities on collecting and considering financial evidence before refusing transport applications on grounds of insufficient financial hardship.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that transport arrangements enable young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access education and training.
Local authorities are responsible for determining what post-16 transport and financial support is necessary and must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance. In doing so, councils must act reasonably, consider all relevant matters and specifically consider the needs of young people with SEND.
Local authority transport policy statements must clearly explain how a young person or parent can appeal if they disagree with a transport decision, as well as the further avenues of complaint available if they remain dissatisfied after the local process has been completed.
The department undertakes annual compliance checks of local authority transport policy statements and keeps the statutory guidance under review. The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the consistency or adequacy of arrangements made by local authorities for collecting and considering evidence of financial hardship.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of opportunities for families to submit financial evidence prior to appeal decisions under local authority post-16 SEND transport policies.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department recognises the importance of ensuring that transport arrangements enable young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access education and training.
Local authorities are responsible for determining what post-16 transport and financial support is necessary and must have regard to the department’s statutory guidance. In doing so, councils must act reasonably, consider all relevant matters and specifically consider the needs of young people with SEND.
Local authority transport policy statements must clearly explain how a young person or parent can appeal if they disagree with a transport decision, as well as the further avenues of complaint available if they remain dissatisfied after the local process has been completed.
The department undertakes annual compliance checks of local authority transport policy statements and keeps the statutory guidance under review. The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the consistency or adequacy of arrangements made by local authorities for collecting and considering evidence of financial hardship.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the Student Loans Company to waive retrospectively applied interest charges on Plan 2 student loans where incorrect interest rates were originally applied due to administrative errors by the Student Loans Company or HM Revenue and Customs; and what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact of those retrospective corrections on affected borrowers.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The two technical errors relating to plan 2 affected 71,000 customers as the interest was not calculated accurately based on their level of earnings. The errors meant 41,000 customers were not charged enough interest and 30,000 customers were charged too much interest.
Accounts have now been corrected, meaning that 41,000 customers have an increased balance and 30,000 customers have seen their balance decrease. Customers who had their accounts adjusted will see no change to their monthly payments, as these are based on an individual’s salary rather than the amount owed. Of the 30,000 accounts who will see their balance decrease, over 3,000 customers (who have paid off their loans) will see a refund. Those who have already paid off their loan in full will not have to start repaying again.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the cross-government review of early education and childcare support is considering the potential merits of combining Universal Credit childcare support, Tax-Free Childcare and the funded early education entitlements into a single subsidy scheme.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The rollout of the expanded entitlements for childcare support means we are delivering more support to families than ever before and transforming the cost of childcare. Eligible working parents of children from nine months old are now able to access 30 hours a week and save an average of £8,000 a year per child.
The department aims to provide a continued provision for all families to access the high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care that makes a difference to children’s outcomes. This will help alleviate the cost of living and support parents to work.
We know the current system is confusing to navigate both for parents and providers. The Early Education and Childcare Review is working to review options to make the system simpler and fairer for every family. As part of this initiative, we are considering a wide range of evidence and ideas from across government, stakeholders and external organisations.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the cross-government review of early education and childcare support is considering the potential costs and merits of introducing an hourly childcare subsidy model.
Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The rollout of the expanded entitlements for childcare support means we are delivering more support to families than ever before and transforming the cost of childcare. Eligible working parents of children from nine months old are now able to access 30 hours a week and save an average of £8,000 a year per child.
The department aims to provide a continued provision for all families to access the high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care that makes a difference to children’s outcomes. This will help alleviate the cost of living and support parents to work.
We know the current system is confusing to navigate both for parents and providers. The Early Education and Childcare Review is working to review options to make the system simpler and fairer for every family. As part of this initiative, we are considering a wide range of evidence and ideas from across government, stakeholders and external organisations.
Asked by: Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat - Guildford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking in response to the recommendations of the Dame Annie Hudson review of social work professional regulation to reduce delays in the handling of fitness-to-practise and cause-for-concern cases by Social Work England; and what target timeframe has been set for the resolution of such cases.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Independent Review of Social Work Professional Regulation, led by Dame Annie Hudson, identified the need for sustained improvement in Social Work England’s fitness to practise function. The government accepted the review’s recommendations and has made improving timeliness and effectiveness a key priority.
Social Work England is expected to produce a robust, externally supported, end-to-end Fitness to Practise Strategic Improvement Plan, with clear milestones and performance measures to drive sustained improvement and address the issues identified by the review.
The department has strengthened its oversight of Social Work England’s performance and is closely monitoring progress. Should sufficient and sustained improvement not be demonstrated, the government will consider what further action may be appropriate.