Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Integrated Communities Action Plan published by his Department on 9 February 2019, what progress has been made on (a) the actions set out in the section entitled Boosting English language and (b) increasing the provision of ESOL classes with a creche.

The Department introduced the Integrated Communities English Language Programme in 2019/20, which delivers highly localised community based English language provision in community buildings including schools, community centres and places of worship. By the end of the programme we anticipate it will have provided English language learning to over 19,000 people. Building on the success of this programme, our new £6.5 million ESOL for Integration Fund 2020/21 was announced on 6 March.

In addition, MHCLG have developed partnerships with 8 local authorities to improve the coordination of ESOL provision within their areas. DfE have also created a set of teaching resources for ESOL learners with limited literacy skills.

All families in England with children aged 3 and 4 are eligible for 15 hours a week of free early education. Eligible working families are also entitled to an additional 15 hours free childcare.