Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of the software that would be required to introduce an automatic registration system for income-related free school meals.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
An assessment has not been made of the specific costs of any software for automatic registration because there are also complex data, systems, and legal implications to such a change. The department continues to explore the delivery feasibility of improving existing systems including the development of auto-enrolment functionality.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to teach cookery skills at (a) primary, and (b) secondary, schools in England, and (2) to introduce a model curriculum which covers a basic range of cookery skills.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Cooking and nutrition are part of the national curriculum for design and technology, which is mandatory in state-maintained schools from key stages 1 to 3. The curriculum aims to teach children how to cook, with an emphasis on savoury dishes, and how to apply the principles of healthy eating and nutrition. It recognises that cooking is an important life skill that will help children to feed themselves, and others, healthy and affordable food.
A food preparation and nutrition GCSE was introduced in September 2016. This requires pupils to understand and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating when preparing and cooking food. The first exams in this new qualification were taken in September 2018.
Furthermore, the department recognises that a firm grounding in cooking and healthy eating can play an important part in enabling individuals to reach their full potential to lead fulfilling and healthy lives. The Levelling Up White Paper has furthered the department’s ambitions to drive up food education in schools. This will include developing new curriculum content covering a basic range of cookery skills. We will also be investing up to £200,000 to pilot new training for school governors and academy trusts on a whole school approach to food.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have carried out an impact assessment of revising the income-based eligibility threshold for the (1) 15-hour childcare offer for two year olds, (2) the Healthy Start Scheme, and (3) free school meals.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
At present, we do not plan to revise the income thresholds for the 15-hour childcare for two-year-olds. The national eligibility criteria aims to support the most disadvantaged children. It is right to target the support based on evidence of which children stand to benefit the most but are least likely to be accessing a place.
The Healthy Start Scheme is the responsibility for the Department of Health and Social Care.
Free school meal eligibility is kept under review ensuring that these meals are supporting those who most need them.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent estimate they have made of the number of children in England who are eligible for income-related free school meals but are not registered for the scheme.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that would be entitled to a free school meal but do not make a claim. Our last estimate is that take-up is around 89% of those who are entitled.
Whilst take-up of free school meals is strong, the department wants to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free school meals, and to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility. To support this, we provide an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities. We have also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for free school meals and provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including free school meals.