Asked by: Anna Turley (Labour (Co-op) - Redcar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the current guidance for schools and local authorities on emotionally-based school refusal; and if her Department will publish distinct statutory guidance on emotionally-based school refusal.
Answered by Edward Timpson
All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a full time education which is suitable to their age, ability, aptitude and any special educational needs they may have. Schools and local authorities are empowered to keep absences to a minimum and have measures available to support and promote good attendance.
Where parents are struggling to get their child to go to school, the school and local authorities can provide support and work with families to improve their child’s attendance. The Department’s advice on school attendance sets out that a conversation between parents and the school is the first step. It also sets out how schools and local authorities can help with wider issues. This guidance can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence/help-with-getting-your-child-to-go-to-school
Where there is an underlying mental health issue, such as a social anxiety disorder, schools should look to secure the right support. To help schools identify underlying mental health problems in young people, in June 2014, the Department issued advice on mental health and behaviour to ensure all young people get the help they need, which can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2
To secure specialist support where it is needed, the Government is making £1.4 billion available over the course of this Parliament to transform local children and young people’s mental health services to deliver more integrated and accessible services. We have also contributed to a £3 million joint pilot of single points of contact in schools and specialist mental health services to ensure students have timely access to appropriate specialist support where needed.
We are also promoting support for parents on mental health. We continue to provide funding to Young Minds for their Parent Helpline. We have also funded the MindEd website to provide a new section for parents – the materials include information for parents on children who refuse to go to school and what steps to take, this information is attached.
Asked by: Anna Turley (Labour (Co-op) - Redcar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to increase the supply of high quality childcare.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Government is committed to delivering flexible, affordable and quality childcare for parents. We are carefully consulting parents, employers, providers and local authorities, and reviewing of the cost of providing childcare with a commitment to increase the average funding rate paid to providers.
The market is growing (with around 230,000 more places than in 2009) and has already demonstrated that it is able to respond through the roll-out of the entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds introduced in the last Parliament.
We recognise that there is natural growth in the childcare system, we can and should encourage new providers to enter the childcare market or existing providers to expand. We have supported this expansion with changes made to reduce bureaucracy, helping schools to provide places, and by enabling the setting up of childminder agencies.
Our new entitlement of 30 hours of free childcare provides an opportunity for further growth for existing childcare providers to expand and for new providers to enter the market, helping to build a stronger economy and give parents increased choice. Full roll-out is scheduled for September 2017, and our approach will be informed by the experiences of pilot areas in 2016. We want to learn from the experience of early implementers to ensure that the market works effectively for both parents and providers.
We are in the process of undertaking a review of the cost of provision and have committed to increasing the average funding rate providers receive, which will help the sector to grow. It is important that the hourly rate for the childcare entitlement strikes the right balance between being fair for providers and delivering value for money to the taxpayer.
Asked by: Anna Turley (Labour (Co-op) - Redcar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to increase the skills and qualification level of the early years workforce.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Early years providers play an important role in developing their workforce in line with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The EYFS sets clear staffing and qualification requirements for the workforce. The skills of the workforce have increased significantly, with 87% of full day care staff holding level 3 qualification or higher (as of 2013).
In order to meet the requirements of the EYFS, and to increase the skills and qualification level of the early years workforce, the Department for Education has:
Developed a robust new set of standards for the Early Years Educator qualification at Level 3. Staff operating at Level 3 must also have GCSEs in English and maths at grade C or above. The department has recently made these GCSEs an entry to work requirement rather than an entry to training requirement. This has opened up training routes, ensuring more people with the right skills are able to join the early years workforce, including individuals on an apprenticeship.
Introduced the Early Years Teachers Status for graduates who specialise in early years. Early years teachers must meet the same entry and qualifications requirements as teachers of older children, including skills tests, and a robust set of teachers’ standards.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2
Guidance on early years educator criteria can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria
The teachers’ standards (early years) can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-teachers-standards
Asked by: Anna Turley (Labour (Co-op) - Redcar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to ensure there is adequate funding made available to childcare providers to provide sufficient high quality childcare places.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
The Government is committed to delivering flexible, affordable and quality childcare for parents. We are carefully consulting parents, employers, providers and local authorities, and reviewing of the cost of providing childcare with a commitment to increase the average funding rate paid to providers.
The market is growing (with around 230,000 more places than in 2009) and has already demonstrated that it is able to respond through the roll-out of the entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds introduced in the last Parliament.
We recognise that there is natural growth in the childcare system, we can and should encourage new providers to enter the childcare market or existing providers to expand. We have supported this expansion with changes made to reduce bureaucracy, helping schools to provide places, and by enabling the setting up of childminder agencies.
Our new entitlement of 30 hours of free childcare provides an opportunity for further growth for existing childcare providers to expand and for new providers to enter the market, helping to build a stronger economy and give parents increased choice. Full roll-out is scheduled for September 2017, and our approach will be informed by the experiences of pilot areas in 2016. We want to learn from the experience of early implementers to ensure that the market works effectively for both parents and providers.
We are in the process of undertaking a review of the cost of provision and have committed to increasing the average funding rate providers receive, which will help the sector to grow. It is important that the hourly rate for the childcare entitlement strikes the right balance between being fair for providers and delivering value for money to the taxpayer.