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Written Question
Teachers: Workplace Pensions
Wednesday 18th October 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2023 to Question HL7130 on Teachers: Workplace Pensions, if she will publish a list of employers involved in the provision of private education which (a) are or (b) have been since 11 May 2010 participants in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The information is not readily available or held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.


Written Question
Free School Meals: Finance
Thursday 22nd June 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what were the savings to the public purse of unspent free school meal allowances in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial years; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The Department allocates funding to schools to support free school meals (FSM) provision, through their core budgets. In 2023/24, the funding rate for each pupil who is eligible for FSM stands at £480. In total, the Department spends over £1 billion each year on free meals, which now support over one third of pupils in England.

FSM are intended as a benefit in kind, rather than a cash benefit, and the Department’s primary interest is that schools meet their legal duties to provide nutritious free lunches to eligible pupils.

Schools have considerable freedom in how they deliver FSM, and it is important that pupils are claiming their free lunch each day. Schools and colleges should ensure pupils are not building up significant cash reserves on their accounts or regularly spending their allowances at other times of day without receiving their healthy lunch.


Written Question
Free School Meals: Finance
Thursday 22nd June 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of allowing pupils who are eligible for free school meals to use an unspent daily allowance on a future day.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The Department allocates funding to schools to support free school meals (FSM) provision, through their core budgets. In 2023/24, the funding rate for each pupil who is eligible for FSM stands at £480. In total, the Department spends over £1 billion each year on free meals, which now support over one third of pupils in England.

FSM are intended as a benefit in kind, rather than a cash benefit, and the Department’s primary interest is that schools meet their legal duties to provide nutritious free lunches to eligible pupils.

Schools have considerable freedom in how they deliver FSM, and it is important that pupils are claiming their free lunch each day. Schools and colleges should ensure pupils are not building up significant cash reserves on their accounts or regularly spending their allowances at other times of day without receiving their healthy lunch.


Written Question
School Meals: Fees and Charges
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the amount of debt owed by families for school meals for the latest period for which data is available; what recent discussions she has held with (a) local authorities and (b) schools on this issue; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The latest published statistics show that over 2 million pupils are claiming free school meals (FSM). This equates to 23.8% of all pupils, up from 22.5% in 2022. Together with almost 1.3 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy, over one third of pupils receive a free meal in school.

The Department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to a FSM but do not make a claim.

The Department’s primary interest is ensuring that all pupils who are entitled to free meals take this offer up. We also want to make it as simple as possible for schools and Local Authorities to determine eligibility. The Department provides an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and Local Authorities. The Department has also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM and provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including FSM.

The take-up rate of UIFSM currently stands at 85%. The Department has not formally assessed the proportion of infant pupils who are entitled to, but not registered for FSM. The Department encourages all families who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for FSM.

The Department also has not estimated the amount of lunch debt owed by families for school meals. The Government continues to monitor cost-of-living issues that are affecting families.


Written Question
Pre-school Education: Free School Meals
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number and proportion of pupils in (a) reception, (b) Year 1 and (c) Year 2 who qualify for means-tested free school meals but are not registered for them; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The latest published statistics show that over 2 million pupils are claiming free school meals (FSM). This equates to 23.8% of all pupils, up from 22.5% in 2022. Together with almost 1.3 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy, over one third of pupils receive a free meal in school.

The Department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to a FSM but do not make a claim.

The Department’s primary interest is ensuring that all pupils who are entitled to free meals take this offer up. We also want to make it as simple as possible for schools and Local Authorities to determine eligibility. The Department provides an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and Local Authorities. The Department has also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM and provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including FSM.

The take-up rate of UIFSM currently stands at 85%. The Department has not formally assessed the proportion of infant pupils who are entitled to, but not registered for FSM. The Department encourages all families who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for FSM.

The Department also has not estimated the amount of lunch debt owed by families for school meals. The Government continues to monitor cost-of-living issues that are affecting families.


Written Question
Free School Meals
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2023 to Question 165189 on Free School Meals, for what reason her Department has not made an estimate of the take-up rate for free school meals since December 2013; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

The latest published statistics show that over 2 million pupils are claiming free school meals (FSM). This equates to 23.8% of all pupils, up from 22.5% in 2022. Together with almost 1.3 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal (UIFSM) policy, over one third of pupils receive a free meal in school.

The Department does not routinely collect information on the proportion of pupils that may be entitled to a FSM but do not make a claim.

The Department’s primary interest is ensuring that all pupils who are entitled to free meals take this offer up. We also want to make it as simple as possible for schools and Local Authorities to determine eligibility. The Department provides an Eligibility Checking System to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and Local Authorities. The Department has also developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for FSM and provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including FSM.

The take-up rate of UIFSM currently stands at 85%. The Department has not formally assessed the proportion of infant pupils who are entitled to, but not registered for FSM. The Department encourages all families who meet the eligibility criteria to apply for FSM.

The Department also has not estimated the amount of lunch debt owed by families for school meals. The Government continues to monitor cost-of-living issues that are affecting families.


Written Question
Pre-school Education
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate, broken down by each UK (a) nation and (b) region, of the number and proportion of all two-year-olds who were eligible for 15 hours per week of free education and childcare in each of the last five years.

Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Statistics relating to the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements are published in the annual 'Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5. The next release containing January 2023 data is scheduled to be published at the end of June 2023.

The 15 and 30-hour entitlements are delivered by local authorities in England and figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations.

There were 135,410 2-year-olds and 1,212,234 3- and 4-year-olds who were registered for the 15-hour entitlement in England in January 2022. These children made up an estimated 72% of eligible 2-year-olds and 92% of all 3- and 4-year-olds respectively. A breakdown of these figures by English region can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/64a833c2-2940-4b9f-933c-08db08498a11.

An estimated 188,318 2-year-olds were eligible for the 15-hour entitlement in England in January 2022, compared to 215,879 in January 2018. Figures for 2018 to 2022, including breakdowns by English region, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/acbbfd49-2d45-4b58-4871-08db0841e01e.

In 2022, an estimated 30% of all 2-year-olds in England were eligible for the 15-hour entitlement, down from an estimated 32% in 2018. These figures were estimated using Office for National Statistics population estimates and Department for Work and Pensions data on the number of children meeting the benefit and tax credit eligibility criteria. Figures for 2018 to 2022, including breakdowns by English region, are attached.


Written Question
Pre-school Education
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of eligible (a) two-year-olds and (b) three to four-year-olds are registered for 15 hours per week of free early education and childcare, broken down by each UK (i) nation and (ii) region, as of 7 February 2023.

Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Statistics relating to the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements are published in the annual 'Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5. The next release containing January 2023 data is scheduled to be published at the end of June 2023.

The 15 and 30-hour entitlements are delivered by local authorities in England and figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations.

There were 135,410 2-year-olds and 1,212,234 3- and 4-year-olds who were registered for the 15-hour entitlement in England in January 2022. These children made up an estimated 72% of eligible 2-year-olds and 92% of all 3- and 4-year-olds respectively. A breakdown of these figures by English region can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/64a833c2-2940-4b9f-933c-08db08498a11.

An estimated 188,318 2-year-olds were eligible for the 15-hour entitlement in England in January 2022, compared to 215,879 in January 2018. Figures for 2018 to 2022, including breakdowns by English region, can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/acbbfd49-2d45-4b58-4871-08db0841e01e.

In 2022, an estimated 30% of all 2-year-olds in England were eligible for the 15-hour entitlement, down from an estimated 32% in 2018. These figures were estimated using Office for National Statistics population estimates and Department for Work and Pensions data on the number of children meeting the benefit and tax credit eligibility criteria. Figures for 2018 to 2022, including breakdowns by English region, are attached.


Written Question
Pre-school Education
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate, broken down by each UK (a) nation and (b) region, of the number and proportion of all three to four-year-olds who were eligible for 30 hours per week of free education and childcare in each of the last five years.

Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Statistics relating to the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements are published in the annual ‘Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5. The next release containing January 2023 data is scheduled to be published at the end of June 2023.

The 15 and 30-hour entitlements are delivered by local authorities in England and figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations.

There were 348,126 3- and 4-year-olds who were registered for the 30-hour entitlement in England in January 2022. Figures by English region can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/ab1f0941-2272-466d-9347-08db08498a11. This equated to an estimated four in five eligible children in January 2022.

In January 2022, an estimated 440,000 3- and 4-year-olds were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in England, up from an estimated 390,000 in 2018. An estimated 48% of the overall 3- and 4-year-old population in England were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in 2022, up from an estimated 42% in 2018. Figures from 2018 to 2022, rounded to the nearest 10,000, are attached.

These figures are based on Office for National Statistics population estimates, Family Resources Survey data and Survey of Personal Incomes data and is published within the ‘Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ statistical release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5.

Due to the statistical uncertainty surrounding this estimate derived from survey data, it cannot be provided at a regional level.


Written Question
Pre-school Education
Wednesday 15th February 2023

Asked by: Catherine McKinnell (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne North)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of eligible three to four-year-olds are registered for 30 hours per week of free early education and childcare, broken down by each UK (i) nation and (ii) region, as of 7 February 2023.

Answered by Claire Coutinho - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Statistics relating to the 15-hour and 30-hour entitlements are published in the annual ‘Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ publication: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5. The next release containing January 2023 data is scheduled to be published at the end of June 2023.

The 15 and 30-hour entitlements are delivered by local authorities in England and figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the devolved administrations.

There were 348,126 3- and 4-year-olds who were registered for the 30-hour entitlement in England in January 2022. Figures by English region can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/ab1f0941-2272-466d-9347-08db08498a11. This equated to an estimated four in five eligible children in January 2022.

In January 2022, an estimated 440,000 3- and 4-year-olds were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in England, up from an estimated 390,000 in 2018. An estimated 48% of the overall 3- and 4-year-old population in England were eligible for the 30-hour entitlement in 2022, up from an estimated 42% in 2018. Figures from 2018 to 2022, rounded to the nearest 10,000, are attached.

These figures are based on Office for National Statistics population estimates, Family Resources Survey data and Survey of Personal Incomes data and is published within the ‘Education provision: children under 5 years of age’ statistical release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-provision-children-under-5.

Due to the statistical uncertainty surrounding this estimate derived from survey data, it cannot be provided at a regional level.