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Written Question
Pre-school Education: Private Education
Monday 30th June 2025

Asked by: Julia Lopez (Conservative - Hornchurch and Upminster)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many private nurseries there were in (a) July 2024, (b) November 2024 and (c) June 2025.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.

The department estimates the number of private group-based providers in England via its annual survey of providers. In 2024, the number of private group-based providers was estimated at 21,200 as of July 2024. Full information can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-provider-survey/2024.

The department does not hold the information requested for the other date in question.

Written Question
Special Educational Needs
Thursday 12th June 2025

Asked by: Julia Lopez (Conservative - Hornchurch and Upminster)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of education, health and care plans.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell

Under the education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment process, local authorities must seek information and advice from a range of partners, including the child or young person and their parents, their school or college (if any), health and social care partners, an educational psychologist and other relevant professionals.

If it is determined necessary for special educational provision to be made for the child or young person, the local authority must prepare an EHC plan which will say clearly what the child or young person’s needs are and what help they will be entitled to.

We know that families face issues with EHC plans and that it can sometimes take a long time for support to be delivered.

This government believes that in a well-functioning system, that is why we are committed to addressing the systemic issues that make special educational needs and disabilities support so hard to access for many families.

We are thinking about how to protect support for the children that will always need specialist placements, and make accessing that support less bureaucratic and adversarial, and how we can intervene earlier so support can be provided regardless of whether a legal plan is in place.

Written Question
Special Educational Needs
Thursday 5th June 2025

Asked by: Julia Lopez (Conservative - Hornchurch and Upminster)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timeline is for publishing the planned White Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell

I refer the hon. Member for Hornchurch and Upminster to the answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53641.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 May 2021
A Brighter Future for the Next Generation

"I thank all hon. and right hon. Members who have taken part in today’s debate. There have been many valuable contributions.

The year 2020 and the early part of 2021 have been a time of enormous difficulty, and our nation’s resolve has been tested by the pandemic. There has been …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 13 May 2021
A Brighter Future for the Next Generation

"That is subject to lively debate, and I know that it is being explored by the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Chloe Smith). I will take that point away to discuss with her while she is away.

I thank all hon. …..."
Julia Lopez - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 09 Sep 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"The extra money for post-16 providers is extremely welcome. It has been warmly welcomed by Havering Sixth Form College in my constituency. However, it appears to be a one-year funding deal, rather than the three-year settlement that five to 16 education providers received. Will the Secretary of State look at …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 24 Jun 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"The cost of childcare is prohibitive for many families and can dissuade women from returning to the workplace, but those financial pressures are doubled and sometimes tripled for parents of multiples. What work is the Minister doing to assist those families to deal with the especial financial challenges of childcare …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Apr 2019
Further Education Funding

"My hon. Friend highlights precisely the relevant point, namely that at the very moment when we should be looking at vocational skills in our economy, we are squeezing funding in that area. This is critical to where our country is heading in the next 10 to 20 years...."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 02 Apr 2019
Further Education Funding

"A problem that I find in my constituency is that there is a disconnect between the jobs being generated by the economy and the ability of our education sector to provide the right skills for those jobs. Havering Sixth Form College, which is in my constituency, plays a key role …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 12 Feb 2019
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Funding

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Gary. I thank the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Sir Vince Cable) for securing this crucial debate. I very much echo what the hon. Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) has said, particularly about trying to navigate through such complexity when …..."
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