Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools are taking part in the Early Language Support for Every Child Programme in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

The Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) pathfinder programme, co-led by the Department for Education and NHS England, is designed to support earlier intervention and targeted support, helping children thrive in mainstream settings and ensuring every child has the best possible start in life.

Through our ‘Whole System Testing’ approach, the programme is being delivered across nine ELSEC pathfinder sites, each comprising a mix of early years and primary school settings. In the North West, Oldham is the designated ELSEC pathfinder site. Nationally, therapy support teams have reached around 20,000 children to date, and over 3,000 staff members have been upskilled to deliver interventions since the programme began.

A final evaluation is scheduled to take place after the end of the summer term in 2026. This will explore the overall impact of the ELSEC programme and provide a robust evidence base to inform future decisions and next steps in shaping inclusive education and early support systems.