To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential special educational needs schools were rated by Ofsted as (1) outstanding, (2) good, (3) requires improvement, and (4) inadequate, at the end of 2023; and how many private equity owned schools were in each of those categories.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.

The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.

Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.

The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.


Written Question
Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential special educational needs school were owned by private equity companies for the most recent date for which figures are available.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.

The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.

Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.

The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.


Written Question
Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market for residential special educational needs schools; what assessment they have made of whether competition in that sector is reducing; and what discussions they have had with the Competition and Markets Authority concerning investigations into that sector.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.

The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.

Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.

The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.


Written Question
Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential special educational schools are currently owned by (1) charities, (2) public bodies, and (3) not for profit companies.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.

The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.

Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.

The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.


Written Question
Children: Care Homes
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many children's homes there were in England at the end of (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023; and how many of those in each year were secure homes.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the noble Lord and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.


Written Question
Boarding Schools: Special Educational Needs
Monday 11th March 2024

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many residential special educational needs schools there were in England at the end of (1) 2021, (2) 2022, and (3) 2023.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

According to the Get Information About Schools (GIAS) database, in 2021 there were 238 open residential special schools. In 2022 there were 175 and in 2023 there were 159. This is a reduction in special schools offering residential provision, the number of special schools grew from 1,689 in 2021 to 1,822 in 2023.

This includes local authority maintained special schools, special academies, non-maintained special schools, independent special schools and specialist post-16 institutions. It covers both those registered as boarding schools, subject to the national minimum standards for residential special schools, and those which offer provision for more than 38 weeks per year and are dual registered as children’s homes.


Written Question
Children: Health Services and Social Services
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the establishment of pilot schemes to assess the feasibility of introducing a common identifier for children across health, care, and education services.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.


Written Question
Children: Medical Records
Monday 15th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made in discussions between the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Education regarding the preparing of a report regarding the benefits and implementation of a consistent child identifier, as proposed under section 179 of the Health and Social Care Act 2022; and when such a report will be published.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.

The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.

The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.


Written Question
Children: Medical Records
Monday 15th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proposed report on a consistent child identifier (CCI) as provided under section 179 of the Health and Social Care Act 2022 will ensure that a CCI relates to both (1) children’s health and social care, and (2) the safeguarding and welfare of children; and if not, why not.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.

The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.

The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.


Written Question
Children: Medical Records
Monday 15th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the NHS number has been a mandatory consistent identifier for adults across health and adult social care since 2015 but no such identifier has been established across health and social care and protection services for children.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In response to the Health and Social Care Act 2015, the department commissioned Ivana La Valle to conduct a research report into extending the duties of the NHS number as a unique identifier from adult social care to children’s social care. The findings concluded that while there was general support for using the NHS number as a unique identifier, there was limited evidence on how this could be achieved or whether it would be possible. The government therefore supported the voluntary use of the NHS number where the local authority and health agencies decide that this is an effective way for them to share information. In 2021, as the Bill for the Health and Care Act 2022 progressed through Parliament, the debate on the need for and feasibility of introducing a consistent identifier was revisited, resulting in the government's commitment to explore the issue further in this report. Consequently, the government will report in July 2023 on government policy on the use of a consistent child identifier for children.

The department is leading a cross-government programme to meet the legislative commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022. A cross-government steering group, including officials from the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Home Office, have overseen the programme. The programme has also reported into the Child Protection Ministerial Group. The programme has undertaken targeted research with frontline practitioners across agencies, including health, police, schools and social care, and analysed current systems and good practice. The findings of the research and analysis will be included in a report laid before Parliament in July on the government policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.

The focus of the research responding to the commitment in the Health and Social Care Act 2022 has been on how to improve information sharing between agencies for child safeguarding and promotion of welfare purposes. However, current and future policy recommendations may have wider reach across children’s health and social care. The government will report in July on its policy on information sharing, including policy related to a consistent child identifier for children.