Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, how many virtual school heads have been appointed to provide for previously looked after children in England pursuant to the Children and Social Work Act 2017; in which locations any such appointments were made; how the impact of these appointments are assessed; and what assessment they have made of the impact these appointments have had on the educational achievement of children in England.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department does not hold information on the number of Virtual School Heads (VSHs) in post. However, all local authorities in England with responsibilities for children’s social care must appoint at least one person to this post.
The appointment of a VSH for previously looked-after children is a statutory requirement under Section 23ZZA of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by the Children and Families Act 2017).
The Children in Need Review recognised the impact that VSHs have in raising aspiration and promoting educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children, recommending that their role is further extended to cover all children with a social worker. The Timpson Review of School Exclusion also found ‘good evidence that VSHs are effective in supporting schools’.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which eight universities are under investigation by the Office for Students because of reported shortcomings in their Business and Management Studies provision; and what assessment they have made of the timing of the investigations, given that applicants for such courses for the next academic year will need to make their decisions soon.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is clear that driving up quality in higher education (HE) in England remains one of our highest priorities. This includes tackling the unacceptable pockets of poor-quality provision and taking regulatory action where appropriate.
The department has encouraged the Office for Students (OfS) to implement a visible and effective inspections regime where the OfS has concerns about the quality of provision. This will involve on-site inspections. The OfS announced its first wave of onsite inspections on 26 May, which will look specifically at business and management courses provided by eight higher education providers (HEPs). These will also examine whether poor-quality online learning has replaced face-to-face teaching to the detriment of students’ academic experience.
Through section 33 of the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, the government has amended the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to make express provision for the OfS to publish notices, decisions or reports given or made in the performance of its functions, including whether a HEP is under investigation. This new legislation sets out the factors that the OfS must consider when deciding whether to publish. The OfS recently consulted the sector on this and is now considering responses before it makes use of these provisions.
As the independent regulator of HE in England, responsibility for initiating investigations and deciding whether, and when, it announces them, or the names of the providers being investigated, is a matter for the OfS. The OfS is required to consider the implications for students planning their higher education this autumn.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have conducted with local authorities about their intention to eliminate differences in educational entitlements between children adopted from a care setting in England and those adopted from an equivalent form of care outside England; and what, if any, results have arisen from these discussions.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.
We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.
In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.
The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.
We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the differences to educational entitlements between children adopted from a care setting in England and those adopted from an equivalent form of care outside of England; and what approach, if any, they are taking to address these differences.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.
We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.
In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.
The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.
We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been adopted from a care setting (1) in England, and (2) an equivalent form of care outside England, in each year from 2010 to 2020.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.
We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.
In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.
The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.
We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received about the data concerning the vulnerability of teachers in the publication by the Office for National Statistics COVID-19 infection published in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK, published on 6 November, following concerns raised by Dr Sarah Rasmussen, TES, and the National Education Union; and what plans they have to issue revised guidance to ensure safety in schools for teachers and pupils in response.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
The department regularly engages with a wide range of organisations around its response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including on data and the evidence base.
The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) COVID-19 Infection Survey results between 2 September to 16 October, published on 6 November, show no evidence of differences in the positivity rate between primary and secondary school teachers, other key workers and other professions.
This evidence was endorsed by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the body of experts that provides scientific advice to the government for emergencies. More information is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/935102/sage-65-meeting-covid-19-s0863.pdf.
On 26 November the ONS published additional analysis that addresses concerns raised by Dr Rasmussen and others on the number of school workers, key workers and other professions in England who had COVID-19. This also shows no clear evidence as to whether there is a difference in the level of individuals who test positive for COVID-19 between teachers and other key workers.
The department continues to review data, analysis and advice from a number of different sources including SAGE, Public Health England, the ONS, and the Joint Biosecurity Centre to ensure our policies are guided by the most up to date scientific evidence.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to research findings that COVID-19 is transmitted in aerosols, leading the governments of Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Spain and France to insist on mask wearing inside classrooms, what assessment they have made of making masks mandatory in UK schools, as advised by the WHO; whether they plan to introduce such measures; and if not, whether they can provide the scientific advice for not doing so.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
At each stage of the department’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have listened to the latest medical and scientific advice, and if we think that the guidance should be revised based on further evidence then we will not hesitate to act swiftly and decisively.
On 21 August, the World Health Organisation published a new statement advising that “children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same condition as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a 1-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area”. As a result, the department has revised its guidance on face coverings in schools and colleges, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-in-education/face-coverings-in-education.
As the guidance outlines, in areas of national government intervention, face coverings should be worn by staff, visitors and pupils in secondary schools when moving around indoors, such as in corridors or communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. Otherwise, all schools, including primary schools, have the discretion to require the use of face coverings by adults and pupils in year 7 and above in indoor communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed. Children in primary school do not need to wear a face covering.
Based on current evidence, and in light of the mitigating measures that schools are already putting in place, face coverings will not be necessary in the classroom. Face coverings would have a negative impact on teaching and their use in the classroom should be avoided.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Agnew of Oulton (HL10441 and HL10442) on 12 October, whether they have made any assessment of potential breaches of equalities legislation in any statutory differences to entitlement for priority schools admissions for children adopted from overseas compared with those adopted in the UK from care, in particular where both such groups of children are UK citizens.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
Children in care are amongst the most vulnerable in our society and they should be admitted to the school that is best able to meet their needs. Since 2007, school admission authorities have been required to give looked after children highest priority in their admission arrangements. In 2012, this priority was further extended to previously looked after children.
The government also wants to ensure that children adopted from care overseas receive equal highest priority for admission into school as those looked after or previously looked after by a local authority in England. The department is committed to amending the School Admissions Code to achieve that aim.
The department is keen to ensure that looked after children are given parity for admission into school as soon as possible, and has asked admission authorities to use their current flexibilities in setting their own admission arrangements to grant children adopted from care overseas second highest admissions priority in their oversubscription criteria.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any changes by Westminster local authority to its School Admission Code in respect of children adopted from care overseas.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
In December of last year the department announced that when the opportunity arises, we intend to amend the School Admissions Code to require admission authorities to give children adopted from state care outside of England, highest priority for admission into school.
Any changes to the School Admissions Code will require a full statutory process, including a public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. They must be considered in the context of competing pressures on the parliamentary timetable.
Until such time as we are able to make the relevant changes to the Code, we have asked admission authorities to use their current flexibilities in setting their own admission arrangements, to grant internationally adopted children second highest admissions priority in their oversubscription criteria.
School admission arrangements are agreed locally and we do not collect information on them. Consequently, the information requested on which admission authorities have adopted these changes, is not held centrally and we have not made an assessment of the changes.
Asked by: Lord Triesman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide a detailed timetable for the legislative changes required to amend the School Admission Code in respect of children adopted from care overseas.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
In December of last year the department announced that when the opportunity arises, we intend to amend the School Admissions Code to require admission authorities to give children adopted from state care outside of England, highest priority for admission into school.
Any changes to the School Admissions Code will require a full statutory process, including a public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. They must be considered in the context of competing pressures on the parliamentary timetable.
Until such time as we are able to make the relevant changes to the Code, we have asked admission authorities to use their current flexibilities in setting their own admission arrangements, to grant internationally adopted children second highest admissions priority in their oversubscription criteria.
School admission arrangements are agreed locally and we do not collect information on them. Consequently, the information requested on which admission authorities have adopted these changes, is not held centrally and we have not made an assessment of the changes.