Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the level of funding for the holiday activities and food programme for local authorities in (a) rural areas and (b) West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years, from 2026/27. This equates to just over £200 million each year.
We will communicate specific regional funding allocations in due course to ensure that children across the country can participate in HAF.
Local authorities and their providers have flexibility about how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of children and families in their area. The department encourages all local authorities to have a rich mix of provision catering for children with different interests and of different ages. There should also be good geographical spread across the local authority but with increased supply in areas with higher levels of families eligible for free school meals.
The multi-year funding commitment will provide local authorities with security and flexibility, enabling more strategic planning, innovation, and long-term partnerships to support increased value for money. Alongside the funding allocation we will also issue our updated guidance, which sets out how this funding can be used and builds on what we are learning from the very best provision across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on increasing the availability of holiday club spaces in (a) rural areas and (b) West Dorset constituency through the holiday activities and food programme.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years, from 2026/27. This equates to just over £200 million each year.
We will communicate specific regional funding allocations in due course to ensure that children across the country can participate in HAF.
Local authorities and their providers have flexibility about how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of children and families in their area. The department encourages all local authorities to have a rich mix of provision catering for children with different interests and of different ages. There should also be good geographical spread across the local authority but with increased supply in areas with higher levels of families eligible for free school meals.
The multi-year funding commitment will provide local authorities with security and flexibility, enabling more strategic planning, innovation, and long-term partnerships to support increased value for money. Alongside the funding allocation we will also issue our updated guidance, which sets out how this funding can be used and builds on what we are learning from the very best provision across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing guidance to (a) local authorities and (b) holiday club providers on enabling families to retain holiday club places without having to pay for additional weeks they do not intend to use.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years, from 2026/27. This equates to just over £200 million each year.
We will communicate specific regional funding allocations in due course to ensure that children across the country can participate in HAF.
Local authorities and their providers have flexibility about how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of children and families in their area. The department encourages all local authorities to have a rich mix of provision catering for children with different interests and of different ages. There should also be good geographical spread across the local authority but with increased supply in areas with higher levels of families eligible for free school meals.
The multi-year funding commitment will provide local authorities with security and flexibility, enabling more strategic planning, innovation, and long-term partnerships to support increased value for money. Alongside the funding allocation we will also issue our updated guidance, which sets out how this funding can be used and builds on what we are learning from the very best provision across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase the level of funding for the Holiday activities and food programme for children in (a) rural areas and (b) West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years, from 2026/27. This equates to just over £200 million each year.
We will communicate specific regional funding allocations in due course to ensure that children across the country can participate in HAF.
Local authorities and their providers have flexibility about how they deliver provision to best serve the needs of children and families in their area. The department encourages all local authorities to have a rich mix of provision catering for children with different interests and of different ages. There should also be good geographical spread across the local authority but with increased supply in areas with higher levels of families eligible for free school meals.
The multi-year funding commitment will provide local authorities with security and flexibility, enabling more strategic planning, innovation, and long-term partnerships to support increased value for money. Alongside the funding allocation we will also issue our updated guidance, which sets out how this funding can be used and builds on what we are learning from the very best provision across the country.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to local authorities facing financial strain in delivering SEND services in (a) the South West and (b) Dorset.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell
The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year. Total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is over £12 billion in 2025/26.
Of that total, the Southwest is being allocated over £983 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £71 million on last year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula. Of this amount, Dorset is being allocated over £60 million, an increase of £4 million on last year.
The department intends to set out plans for reforming the SEND system in further detail in a Schools White Paper in the autumn and are considering the funding for future years following the spending review that concluded in June. We will also set out later this year how the government will support local authorities to deal with their historic deficits.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that statutory deadlines for SEND assessments and Education, Health and Care Plans are consistently upheld by local authorities.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell
I refer the hon. Member for West Dorset to the answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65182.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support people with visual impairments in (a) further education (b) higher education and (c) apprenticeships.
Answered by Janet Daby
Support for people with visual impairments in further education, higher education (HE), and apprenticeships is guided by legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the special educational needs and disabilities code of practice, with tailored provisions depending on the setting and the needs of the individual.
All education and training providers and other related service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including those with visual impairments, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.
Reasonable adjustments can include adapting teaching methods (providing materials in accessible formats or using assistive technology), modifying assessments (offering extra time or alternative formats), ensuring physical accessibility (ramps or accessible accommodation), and offering personalised support services (including note-takers, interpreters, or mental health support).
In apprenticeships, learning support funding of £150 per month is available to training providers to make reasonable adjustments which support apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Disabled Students’ Allowance is available for eligible HE students for the provision of more specialist support, including specialist equipment, travel costs and non-medical helpers such as specialist note-takers or printing materials in large print or braille in addition to any reasonable adjustments made by their HE provider.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of moving from early years to primary school on children in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.
Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.
From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.
The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.
Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.
Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase support for schools to assist children in the early stages of primary education in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.
Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.
From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.
The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.
Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.
Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve support for children transitioning from early years education to primary school in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.
Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.
From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.
The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.
Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.
Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.