Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how his Department monitors compliance by English local authorities with requirements prescribed in section 1 of the Childcare Act 2006.

The department does not monitor local authority compliance with section 1 of the Childcare Act 2006. We do continue to work closely with local authorities to improve outcomes for children, such as through the Partners in Practice programme, the special educational needs and disabilities reform programme, and our work to close the word gap announced in ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential: a plan to improve social mobility through education’.