Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of (a) SINs and (b) rapid reviews submitted to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel in (i) 2023-24 compared with (ii) 2022-23.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department’s official statistics show that in the year ending 31 March 2024, there were 405 serious incident notifications and 330 rapid reviews, respective decreases of 51 and 72 from the year prior. The statistics are based on one notification per incident, which can relate to more than one child in some instances.
We are aware that, in some instances, not all incidents that meet the definition for a serious incident are communicated. The department will continue to work with the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and local authorities to ensure the notification of serious incidents that meet the criteria as set out in the statutory guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’.
The government has also committed to urgently reviewing the effectiveness of serious incident notifications in relation to child sexual abuse and exploitation in line with Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authorities have been able to auto-enrol children for free school meals; and whether she expects that the new expanded eligibility will increase this number.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Oxford East to the answer of 25 June 2025 to Question 58496.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there will be an increase in the pupil premium following the introduction of free school meals for all pupils from families on Universal Credit.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The allocation of pupil premium funding to schools will continue to be based on the existing earned income threshold for free school meal eligibility of £7,400 in the 2026/27 financial year.
The pupil premium eligibility criteria also includes children looked-after or previously looked-after by their local authority.
The department is reviewing how we allocate pupil premium funding in the longer term.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the pupil premium will be linked to the current income unit only.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The allocation of pupil premium funding to schools will continue to be based on the existing earned income threshold for free school meal eligibility of £7,400 in the 2026/27 financial year.
The pupil premium eligibility criteria also includes children looked-after or previously looked-after by their local authority.
The department is reviewing how we allocate pupil premium funding in the longer term.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the reasons for the reduction in the number of children put on the child protection register for reasons including sexual abuse from (a) 2022-23 to (b) 2023-24 in England and Wales.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Baroness Casey’s national audit on group-based child sexual exploitation recommended the department interrogate the child protection data to identify the causes of the decline in child sexual abuse and exploitation representation.
The government has committed to urgently reviewing the child protection data. We must better understand the decline in child sexual abuse and exploitation representation in the assessment data and the reasons for variation across local authorities.
By the end of 2025, we will publish analysis that aims to better understand what has happened regarding the decline in child protection data on child sexual abuse and exploitation.
This will include analysis of child abuse victims’ demographics, outcomes, trends and local area variation over time. We will also work with the Child Sexual Abuse Centre to understand the specific issues outlined in this recommendation and will publish any related research once concluded.
Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that no child should ever have to face, and it is of paramount importance that we do more to protect vulnerable children from the horrors of this crime.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Curriculum and Assessment Review includes (a) media and (b) artificial intelligence literacy.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The Curriculum and Assessment Review’s terms of reference set out that it will seek to refresh the curriculum to ensure children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and ready for work, building the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to thrive. This includes embedding digital skills in their learning.
In its interim report, the Review noted the importance of the curriculum keeping pace with the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information, including a renewed focus on digital and media literacy and critical thinking skills.
During its current phase of work, the Review is considering whether there is sufficient coverage of key knowledge and skills in this area to prepare children and young people for future life and to thrive in a fast-changing world.
The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn, at which point the government will respond.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to establish a national, statutory mechanism to (a) identify and (b) support children with a parent in prison.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
I refer my right hon. Friend, the Member for Oxford East to the answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58709.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Period product scheme for schools and colleges, published 9 September 2024, what methods she uses to highlight to eligible schools and colleges the availability of (a) environmentally friendly and (b) reusable products.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The period product scheme provides a wide range of products for organisations to choose from. These include environmentally friendly tampons and pads, alongside reusable products such as menstrual cups and period pants. Schools and colleges know their learners best and therefore have the freedom to select the most suitable products for their learners, considering the cost and type of product.
When choosing products, girls and women will inevitably have a range of priorities including whether the product is familiar, comfortable and whether it is environmentally friendly. The department therefore offers a range of products to allow organisations and learners a choice. We will be monitoring product choice closely, while continuing to seek opportunities to encourage the use of sustainable products as the scheme develops.
In the 2024/25 academic year up to February 2025, 45% of ordering organisations had ordered environmentally friendly or reusable products.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Period product scheme for schools and colleges, published 9 September 2024, what proportion of organisations have ordered (a) environmentally friendly and (b) reusable products during the 2024-25 academic year to date.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The period product scheme provides a wide range of products for organisations to choose from. These include environmentally friendly tampons and pads, alongside reusable products such as menstrual cups and period pants. Schools and colleges know their learners best and therefore have the freedom to select the most suitable products for their learners, considering the cost and type of product.
When choosing products, girls and women will inevitably have a range of priorities including whether the product is familiar, comfortable and whether it is environmentally friendly. The department therefore offers a range of products to allow organisations and learners a choice. We will be monitoring product choice closely, while continuing to seek opportunities to encourage the use of sustainable products as the scheme develops.
In the 2024/25 academic year up to February 2025, 45% of ordering organisations had ordered environmentally friendly or reusable products.
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on developing updated guidance for schools on tackling sexual harassment.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The department has previously committed to non-statutory guidance on sexual harassment, sexual violence and violence against women and girls. This is pending whilst the department carries out the review of the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance, and the department will be considering how best to support teachers in this area.
A draft of the amended RSHE statutory guidance will be published for consultation as soon as possible. The department will take responses carefully into account, including any relating to content on sexual harassment and violence, in finalising new guidance prior to publication.