Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 24 October (HLWS5997), whether the allocation for local authorities in respect of specialist provision from the Teachers' Pay Grant in their area will extend to centrally-funded teachers of dance, drama, and music.

The allocation for local authorities in respect of specialist provision is specifically to fund institutions that provide for children with high needs. It does not cover centrally employed teachers.

The department is in discussions with a range of stakeholders, including the Local Government Association, about the small number of centrally employed teachers, who account for 1% of all classroom teachers not covered by the Teachers’ Pay Grant.