Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all further education students who are (1) 16 or17 years old receive at least 540 teaching hours, and (2) 18 years old or over receive at least 450 teaching hours.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, most students are not able to attend education at present and therefore cannot receive planned teaching hours in person.

In the guidance issued by the government on maintaining education and skills training provision in further education providers, we are clear that we want learners to be able to continue to study. Colleges and providers are moving more learning online to allow students to continue with studies remotely and we have provided advice and signposted to support to help with this.

Where young people are not able to learn online because they lack or cannot afford suitable devices or internet connectivity, we are encouraging 16-19 education providers to help using the 16-19 Bursary Fund. Top-up funding will be available where necessary to support 16-19 education providers with this.