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Written Question
Skilled Workers: Training
Wednesday 29th March 2023

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Skills Builder Partnership report entitled Essential Skills Tracker 2023, published March 2023, which found that moving from the lower quartile essential skill score to the upper quartile essential skill score is associated with a wage premium of between 9.4 per cent and 12 per cent, if she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to use the same skills taxonomies in schools as in job centres.

Answered by Robert Halfon

The department has an ambitious skills agenda, backed by £3.8 billion of investment. The department is using this to build a skills system that is employer focused, high quality, and fit for the future.

Our skills reforms provide a ladder of opportunity that enables young people and adults to attain good jobs and progress in their careers. This begins with the opportunities and social justice needed to access excellent education and skills training. This will help more people to achieve secure, sustained, and well-paid employment and provide opportunities for individuals to progress in their careers.

The department funds a range of programmes and services which help learners develop the skills that employers want, including:

  • Skills Bootcamps: These are designed to support local regions and employers to fill in-demand vacancies and increase the skills set and opportunities open to adults. They have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers through upskilling adults with training that meets key sectoral skills gaps.
  • Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship standards are developed by employers to address their sector skills needs. The knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard describe the full competence required in the occupation and are developed to be transferable to a range of employers across the sector. The End Point Assessment also ensures that people completing apprenticeships are occupationally competent.
  • Returnerships: In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced Returnerships, which will provide a clear route back into work and encourage employers to hire older workers through raising awareness of three different pathways: Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Sector-Based Work Academies Programmes.
  • Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) sector-based work academy programme (SWAPs). Developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers, SWAPs offer training, work experience and a guaranteed interview to fill jobs. SWAPs allow people to learn the skills and behaviours that employers in particular industries look for, with individual placements lasting up to six weeks.
  • Careers guidance: The government expects all secondary schools to use the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance to develop and improve their careers provision for young people, including providing them with encounters with employers and the world of work. The Careers & Enterprise Company supports schools and colleges to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks, including connecting them with employers and increasing young people’s awareness of the different pathways available and the types of skills employers are looking for. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance.
  • Skills Taxonomy: The Unit for Future Skills has begun developing a UK-specific skills taxonomy that will provide a common language for skills and mappings between skills, qualifications, and occupations. The first part of the project will focus on developing a methodology for the taxonomy, and will involve engaging with potential users, to ensure the final product provides value across the skills system. It is during this phase of work that the scope of the taxonomy will be determined, including how the different types of skills (such as essential and technical) will be covered. Officials in the department have recently met with the Skills Builder Partnership to discuss this work. We are currently considering options for how the Skills Builder Universal Framework for Essential Skills, alongside other work in this area, might inform or be incorporated into our skills taxonomy.
Written Question
Skilled Workers: Training
Wednesday 29th March 2023

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Skills Builder Partnership report entitled Essential Skills Tracker 2023, published March 2023, which found that older workers tend to have lower levels of essential skills, if she will take steps to promote and benchmark essential skills as standard in (a) apprenticeships, (b) Skills Bootcamps, (c) the sector-based work academy programme and (d) the Returnerships programme.

Answered by Robert Halfon

The department has an ambitious skills agenda, backed by £3.8 billion of investment. The department is using this to build a skills system that is employer focused, high quality, and fit for the future.

Our skills reforms provide a ladder of opportunity that enables young people and adults to attain good jobs and progress in their careers. This begins with the opportunities and social justice needed to access excellent education and skills training. This will help more people to achieve secure, sustained, and well-paid employment and provide opportunities for individuals to progress in their careers.

The department funds a range of programmes and services which help learners develop the skills that employers want, including:

  • Skills Bootcamps: These are designed to support local regions and employers to fill in-demand vacancies and increase the skills set and opportunities open to adults. They have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers through upskilling adults with training that meets key sectoral skills gaps.
  • Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship standards are developed by employers to address their sector skills needs. The knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard describe the full competence required in the occupation and are developed to be transferable to a range of employers across the sector. The End Point Assessment also ensures that people completing apprenticeships are occupationally competent.
  • Returnerships: In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced Returnerships, which will provide a clear route back into work and encourage employers to hire older workers through raising awareness of three different pathways: Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Sector-Based Work Academies Programmes.
  • Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) sector-based work academy programme (SWAPs). Developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers, SWAPs offer training, work experience and a guaranteed interview to fill jobs. SWAPs allow people to learn the skills and behaviours that employers in particular industries look for, with individual placements lasting up to six weeks.
  • Careers guidance: The government expects all secondary schools to use the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance to develop and improve their careers provision for young people, including providing them with encounters with employers and the world of work. The Careers & Enterprise Company supports schools and colleges to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks, including connecting them with employers and increasing young people’s awareness of the different pathways available and the types of skills employers are looking for. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance.
  • Skills Taxonomy: The Unit for Future Skills has begun developing a UK-specific skills taxonomy that will provide a common language for skills and mappings between skills, qualifications, and occupations. The first part of the project will focus on developing a methodology for the taxonomy, and will involve engaging with potential users, to ensure the final product provides value across the skills system. It is during this phase of work that the scope of the taxonomy will be determined, including how the different types of skills (such as essential and technical) will be covered. Officials in the department have recently met with the Skills Builder Partnership to discuss this work. We are currently considering options for how the Skills Builder Universal Framework for Essential Skills, alongside other work in this area, might inform or be incorporated into our skills taxonomy.
Written Question
Skilled Workers: Training
Wednesday 29th March 2023

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Skills Builder Partnership report entitled Essential Skills Tracker 2023, published March 2023, which found that 17 per cent of workers do not manage to break out of a cycle of low education, basic skills and essential skills, what steps she is taking to help upskill this group.

Answered by Robert Halfon

The department has an ambitious skills agenda, backed by £3.8 billion of investment. The department is using this to build a skills system that is employer focused, high quality, and fit for the future.

Our skills reforms provide a ladder of opportunity that enables young people and adults to attain good jobs and progress in their careers. This begins with the opportunities and social justice needed to access excellent education and skills training. This will help more people to achieve secure, sustained, and well-paid employment and provide opportunities for individuals to progress in their careers.

The department funds a range of programmes and services which help learners develop the skills that employers want, including:

  • Skills Bootcamps: These are designed to support local regions and employers to fill in-demand vacancies and increase the skills set and opportunities open to adults. They have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers through upskilling adults with training that meets key sectoral skills gaps.
  • Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship standards are developed by employers to address their sector skills needs. The knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard describe the full competence required in the occupation and are developed to be transferable to a range of employers across the sector. The End Point Assessment also ensures that people completing apprenticeships are occupationally competent.
  • Returnerships: In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced Returnerships, which will provide a clear route back into work and encourage employers to hire older workers through raising awareness of three different pathways: Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Sector-Based Work Academies Programmes.
  • Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) sector-based work academy programme (SWAPs). Developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers, SWAPs offer training, work experience and a guaranteed interview to fill jobs. SWAPs allow people to learn the skills and behaviours that employers in particular industries look for, with individual placements lasting up to six weeks.
  • Careers guidance: The government expects all secondary schools to use the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance to develop and improve their careers provision for young people, including providing them with encounters with employers and the world of work. The Careers & Enterprise Company supports schools and colleges to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks, including connecting them with employers and increasing young people’s awareness of the different pathways available and the types of skills employers are looking for. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance.
  • Skills Taxonomy: The Unit for Future Skills has begun developing a UK-specific skills taxonomy that will provide a common language for skills and mappings between skills, qualifications, and occupations. The first part of the project will focus on developing a methodology for the taxonomy, and will involve engaging with potential users, to ensure the final product provides value across the skills system. It is during this phase of work that the scope of the taxonomy will be determined, including how the different types of skills (such as essential and technical) will be covered. Officials in the department have recently met with the Skills Builder Partnership to discuss this work. We are currently considering options for how the Skills Builder Universal Framework for Essential Skills, alongside other work in this area, might inform or be incorporated into our skills taxonomy.
Written Question
Skilled Workers: Training
Wednesday 29th March 2023

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Skills Builder Partnership report entitled Essential Skills Tracker 2023, published March 2023, which found that further essential skills are need to help increase in productivity, if she will take steps to develop a skills taxonomy with essential skills sitting alongside (a) basic and (b) technical skills.

Answered by Robert Halfon

The department has an ambitious skills agenda, backed by £3.8 billion of investment. The department is using this to build a skills system that is employer focused, high quality, and fit for the future.

Our skills reforms provide a ladder of opportunity that enables young people and adults to attain good jobs and progress in their careers. This begins with the opportunities and social justice needed to access excellent education and skills training. This will help more people to achieve secure, sustained, and well-paid employment and provide opportunities for individuals to progress in their careers.

The department funds a range of programmes and services which help learners develop the skills that employers want, including:

  • Skills Bootcamps: These are designed to support local regions and employers to fill in-demand vacancies and increase the skills set and opportunities open to adults. They have the potential to transform the skills landscape for adults and employers through upskilling adults with training that meets key sectoral skills gaps.
  • Apprenticeships: Apprenticeship standards are developed by employers to address their sector skills needs. The knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard describe the full competence required in the occupation and are developed to be transferable to a range of employers across the sector. The End Point Assessment also ensures that people completing apprenticeships are occupationally competent.
  • Returnerships: In the Spring Budget 2023, the government announced Returnerships, which will provide a clear route back into work and encourage employers to hire older workers through raising awareness of three different pathways: Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps and Sector-Based Work Academies Programmes.
  • Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) sector-based work academy programme (SWAPs). Developed by Jobcentres in partnership with employers and training providers, SWAPs offer training, work experience and a guaranteed interview to fill jobs. SWAPs allow people to learn the skills and behaviours that employers in particular industries look for, with individual placements lasting up to six weeks.
  • Careers guidance: The government expects all secondary schools to use the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance to develop and improve their careers provision for young people, including providing them with encounters with employers and the world of work. The Careers & Enterprise Company supports schools and colleges to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks, including connecting them with employers and increasing young people’s awareness of the different pathways available and the types of skills employers are looking for. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance.
  • Skills Taxonomy: The Unit for Future Skills has begun developing a UK-specific skills taxonomy that will provide a common language for skills and mappings between skills, qualifications, and occupations. The first part of the project will focus on developing a methodology for the taxonomy, and will involve engaging with potential users, to ensure the final product provides value across the skills system. It is during this phase of work that the scope of the taxonomy will be determined, including how the different types of skills (such as essential and technical) will be covered. Officials in the department have recently met with the Skills Builder Partnership to discuss this work. We are currently considering options for how the Skills Builder Universal Framework for Essential Skills, alongside other work in this area, might inform or be incorporated into our skills taxonomy.
Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of opportunities for training available to staff in the childcare sector.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

As part of education recovery and in response to the needs of the workforce following the COVID-19 pandemic, the department is investing up to £180 million in the early years sector. This will build a stronger workforce and enable providers to deliver high-quality teaching and help address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the youngest children, particularly those in the most disadvantaged areas.

The workforce investment includes two further phases of the early years professional development programme, building on an initial £20 million programme. This high quality, evidence-based programme is targeted at practitioners in disadvantaged areas. It will provide targeted support to early years staff in communication and language, maths, and personal, social, and emotional development.

In response to feedback from the sector, the department is supporting up to 5,000 early years staff and childminders to become qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo).

The department is also developing new early years training routes. Employer trailblazer groups have developed level 2 and 3 apprenticeships, and, in August 2021, the department launched a level 5 apprenticeship. From April 2021, free level 3 early years qualifications became available through the Lifetime Skills Guarantee.

Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate the Government has made of the proportion of staff in the childcare sector who are paid the National Minimum Wage.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

The latest figures from the department’s education 'Providers’ finances: survey of childcare and early years providers', collected in 2021, show that 22% of staff aged 23 and over working in a private or voluntary setting, nursery class or maintained nursery school were paid at or below the statutory minimum of the National Living Wage, the survey can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providers-finances-survey-of-childcare-and-ey-providers-2021.

At the time of the survey, the rate for both the National Living Wage (for those aged 23 and over) and for the National Minimum wage (for those of at least school leaving age) was £8.72 until April 2021 and £8.91 from April 2021.

Some 65% of childminders were paid below these rates. However, as childminders are self-employed, the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage do not apply.

Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate the Government has made of the proportion of employers in the childcare sector that would relax staff-to-child ratios in the event that Government guidelines are changed.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

The government is consulting on moving to the Scottish ratios for two-year-olds, from a ratio of one-to-four (one adult to four children) to one-to-five (one adult to five children). The government is also considering how we can provide greater flexibility within ratios for childminders.

Alongside this consultation, the department is running a bespoke survey of early years providers to help us understand how the proposed changes to staff to child ratios in early years settings might affect provision, including their intention to adopt any changes. The results of this survey will be published.

Our priority continues to be to provide safe, high quality early years provision for our youngest children. Throughout this consultation process we are engaging fully with the sector and parents and carers.

Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an estimate of the average proportion of household income that families spent on childcare in each region of the UK in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

The department does not hold the average proportion of household income that families spent on childcare in each region of the UK and, therefore, cannot provide an estimate for this question.

The 2022 Coram Family and Childcare Survey outlines the average prices of childcare in Great Britain and does contain a regional breakdown. This information is available here: https://www.coram.org.uk/sites/default/files/resource_files/Coram%20Childcare%20Survey%20-%202022.pdf

The 2019 childcare and early years survey of parents provided some details around the average weekly costs of childcare in each region. This information is available on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2019.

The table below splits out the mean and median family-level weekly payment for childcare by region. These payments are for families with a child aged 0 to 4, who paid a childcare provider (or providers) in a specific week for their children aged 0 to 14.

Region

Median (£)

Mean (£)

Standard Error

Unweighted base

North East

31.00

53.18

4.78

102

North West

40.00

68.87

6.10

333

Yorkshire and the Humber

44.10

69.47

5.74

297

East Midlands

61.58

84.99

8.08

212

West Midlands

43.46

68.92

7.07

300

East of England

42.54

74.56

6.79

260

London

91.97

135.51

13.89

233

South East

45.00

80.58

6.07

361

South West

44.00

60.12

4.05

246

The survey also showed that the overall median weekly amount paid by families to childcare providers (including both formal and informal providers) was £45.00.

Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate the Government has made of the number of childcare places available for children below school age in each region of the UK.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member for Wirral South, and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Written Question
Children: Day Care
Monday 5th September 2022

Asked by: Alison McGovern (Labour - Wirral South)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate the Government has made of the average hourly wage for staff in the childcare sector.

Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith

According to survey estimates, the mean hourly pay (calculated as gross weekly earnings divided by contracted weekly work hours) for people working in the early years sector in 2021 was as follows, by provider type:

Early years provider type

Mean hourly pay (2021)

All providers

£12.50

All providers except childminders

£12.94

Private providers

£11.94

Voluntary providers

£11.58

Nursery classes

£18.78

Maintained nursery schools

£19.38

Childminders

£8.23

Source: Table 12, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providers-finances-survey-of-childcare-and-ey-providers-2021.