Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total number of children suffering from cancer and on an Education, Health and Care Plan in each of the last three years.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Information on the number of children with cancer and with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan is not held. The department collects data on EHC plans in England, and the nature of special educational needs. However, this is not to the granularity of specific medical conditions such as cancer.
The department publishes annual national statistics relating to EHC plans on the Explore Education Statistics platform, which is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the numbers of (1) schools, local authorities and multi-academy trusts commissioning alternative provision from unregistered settings, and (2) pupils receiving such provision, in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Data on the number of pupils receiving school arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e34e06f9-b3f1-4d63-8c02-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 12,084 pupils were receiving school arranged alternative provision in an education setting without a unique record number (URN) assigned by the department. This data was recorded across 2,558 schools which had arranged alternative provision and includes schools in multi-academy trusts.
Data on the number of children and young people receiving local authority arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c1229d41-8321-4c05-8c04-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 8,311 placements were made in education settings without a URN. 140 local authorities recorded placements in education settings without a URN.
The alternative provision statutory guidance is clear that alternative provision, including unregistered alternative provision arranged by a local authority, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. Responsibility for the alternative provision used rests with the commissioner. The statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
The Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance states that, where a school places a pupil in alternative provision, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the alternative provision that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment.
The department launched a call for evidence on the use of unregistered alternative provision last year. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and the analysis will be published later this year. The department will set out further proposals to strengthen protections for children and young people in unregistered alternative provision as they develop.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure schools, local authorities and multi-academy trusts that commission unregistered alternative provision take suitable and consistent checks on the quality and safety of that provision.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Data on the number of pupils receiving school arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e34e06f9-b3f1-4d63-8c02-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 12,084 pupils were receiving school arranged alternative provision in an education setting without a unique record number (URN) assigned by the department. This data was recorded across 2,558 schools which had arranged alternative provision and includes schools in multi-academy trusts.
Data on the number of children and young people receiving local authority arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c1229d41-8321-4c05-8c04-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 8,311 placements were made in education settings without a URN. 140 local authorities recorded placements in education settings without a URN.
The alternative provision statutory guidance is clear that alternative provision, including unregistered alternative provision arranged by a local authority, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. Responsibility for the alternative provision used rests with the commissioner. The statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
The Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance states that, where a school places a pupil in alternative provision, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the alternative provision that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment.
The department launched a call for evidence on the use of unregistered alternative provision last year. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and the analysis will be published later this year. The department will set out further proposals to strengthen protections for children and young people in unregistered alternative provision as they develop.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate unregistered alternative provision for schooling.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Data on the number of pupils receiving school arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e34e06f9-b3f1-4d63-8c02-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 12,084 pupils were receiving school arranged alternative provision in an education setting without a unique record number (URN) assigned by the department. This data was recorded across 2,558 schools which had arranged alternative provision and includes schools in multi-academy trusts.
Data on the number of children and young people receiving local authority arranged alternative provision is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/c1229d41-8321-4c05-8c04-08dbe514ee42. This shows that 8,311 placements were made in education settings without a URN. 140 local authorities recorded placements in education settings without a URN.
The alternative provision statutory guidance is clear that alternative provision, including unregistered alternative provision arranged by a local authority, should be good quality, registered where appropriate, and delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks. Responsibility for the alternative provision used rests with the commissioner. The statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.
The Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance states that, where a school places a pupil in alternative provision, the school continues to be responsible for the safeguarding of that pupil and should be satisfied that the provider meets the needs of the pupil. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2. Schools should obtain written confirmation from the alternative provision that appropriate safeguarding checks have been carried out on individuals working at the establishment.
The department launched a call for evidence on the use of unregistered alternative provision last year. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and the analysis will be published later this year. The department will set out further proposals to strengthen protections for children and young people in unregistered alternative provision as they develop.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the judicial review of the establishment of the Oak National Academy being granted permission to proceed.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As an integral part of the process to establish Oak National Academy (Oak) as an arm’s length body, the department produced a business case that included an assessment of potential market impact following engagement with stakeholders, including the education publishing and technology sector. This was published in November 2022, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oak-national-academy-business-case.
During the set up of Oak, Parliament was sighted on progress through two written ministerial statements, laid in both Houses. On 5 July 2022 a statement was laid giving notice of a contingent liability for the issuing of an indemnity in respect of forming Oak as an arm’s length body (HLWS174, HCWS179). On 5 September 2022 a further statement was laid notifying Parliament of a Contingencies Fund advance to enable Oak to commence activity from 1 September (HLWS271, HCWS277).
As part of the wider Public Bodies Review programme, a review of Oak will take place in 2024. This review will act as a checkpoint to ensure that the organisation is acting effectively and will include consideration of the effect on the commercial curriculum resources market.
In establishing Oak as an arm’s length body, the department is taking action to tackle teacher workload, improve curriculum expertise, and ultimately improve education. It is right that the government takes steps to achieve this, whilst being careful to strike an appropriate balance with the interests of the thriving commercial curriculum and publishing markets. It is therefore disappointing to see commercial organisations, and those who represent them, trying to block this support to teachers. The department will be defending the legal challenge. The department is unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings and cannot speculate about the outcome of the claim.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have provided to Parliament to allow effective scrutiny of the decision to establish the Oak National Academy.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
As an integral part of the process to establish Oak National Academy (Oak) as an arm’s length body, the department produced a business case that included an assessment of potential market impact following engagement with stakeholders, including the education publishing and technology sector. This was published in November 2022, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oak-national-academy-business-case.
During the set up of Oak, Parliament was sighted on progress through two written ministerial statements, laid in both Houses. On 5 July 2022 a statement was laid giving notice of a contingent liability for the issuing of an indemnity in respect of forming Oak as an arm’s length body (HLWS174, HCWS179). On 5 September 2022 a further statement was laid notifying Parliament of a Contingencies Fund advance to enable Oak to commence activity from 1 September (HLWS271, HCWS277).
As part of the wider Public Bodies Review programme, a review of Oak will take place in 2024. This review will act as a checkpoint to ensure that the organisation is acting effectively and will include consideration of the effect on the commercial curriculum resources market.
In establishing Oak as an arm’s length body, the department is taking action to tackle teacher workload, improve curriculum expertise, and ultimately improve education. It is right that the government takes steps to achieve this, whilst being careful to strike an appropriate balance with the interests of the thriving commercial curriculum and publishing markets. It is therefore disappointing to see commercial organisations, and those who represent them, trying to block this support to teachers. The department will be defending the legal challenge. The department is unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings and cannot speculate about the outcome of the claim.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of tutoring providers for children in England not being required to be registered.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Government does not collect or hold data on the number of tutoring providers in England. Many tutoring providers are eligible to register with Ofsted on the General Childcare Register and are subject to scrutiny as a result. The Department would encourage all settings that may register with Ofsted to do so
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total number of tutoring providers in England.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Government does not collect or hold data on the number of tutoring providers in England. Many tutoring providers are eligible to register with Ofsted on the General Childcare Register and are subject to scrutiny as a result. The Department would encourage all settings that may register with Ofsted to do so
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the total cost spent on the (1) planning, (2) acquisition of land, and (3) work, on those sections of the HS2 which are now cancelled.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Regular updates on HS2, including spend to date are provided in the HS2 six-monthly report to Parliament. The last report was published in June 2023 and the next one will be published in due course.
The Department is working with HS2 Ltd and its supply chain to assess the cost implications as a result of the cancellation of HS2 Phases 2a and 2b (both Western and Eastern Legs, including HS2 East).
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what will happen to any land that was compulsorily purchased for HS2.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Any land and property that is no longer required for HS2 will be sold, and a programme is being developed to do this. We will set out further detail on these next steps, and will engage in full with those communities who are affected as we do.