Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to early years providers in the private sector to mitigate the impact of increases to employer National Insurance contributions.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child and the work choices for every parent. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver the entitlements and high quality early years provision going forward.
That is why, despite tough decisions to get public finances back on track, the government is continuing to prioritise and invest, supporting early education and childcare providers with the costs they face.
In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to spend over £8 billion on early years entitlements. We have also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year.
On top of this, the department is providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant to support the sector as it prepares to deliver the final phase of expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025, recognising the significant level of expansion needed and the effort and planning this will require. An additional £25 million is also being provided to public sector employers through the early years National Insurance contributions grant for 2025/26.
Early years childcare providers may also benefit from the Employment Allowance. Employment Allowance is being increased to protect businesses by providing relief of up to £10,500 per annum on their employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions liabilities from 6 April 2025. Early years childcare providers are entitled to claim the Employment Allowance if they are private businesses or charities and the department expects the vast majority will be eligible to do so.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the continuation of funding for (a) the Holiday Activities and Food, (b) School Games and (c) the Primary PE and Sport Premium programmes.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The government recently announced over £200 million funding for the holiday activities and food programme for the 2025/26 financial year. Funding for the primary PE and sport premium has been committed to the end of the 2024/25 academic year.
The School Games are the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health and Social Care. The government has confirmed funding for the School Games Organisers until the end of the 2024/25 academic year.
Information on future budgets will be made available in due course.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the potential impact of proposed statutory uniform limits on the rate of participation in school sports what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential impact of proposed statutory uniform limits on the rate of participation in school sports.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities; however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items, including branded PE kit.
The government has, in line with its manifesto commitment, introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities.
We expect schools to ensure that all pupils can participate in all aspects of school life, including PE and sport. No pupil should be discouraged from participating in any aspect of school life, such as interschool competitions, because of the cost of additional uniform requirements. This limit allows school leaders to prioritise branding the uniform and PE kit items which best reflect the needs of their school.
Research also suggests that the more choice that girls in particular have over what to wear for PE, the more they are comfortable and the greater the likelihood of their long term participation in sport. This research is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43602/documents/216689/default/.
Guidance already encourages schools to select PE kit items that are comfortable, practical and appropriate for all students. Together with new limits on unnecessary branded items, this approach will help to ensure that all students, including girls, feel confident and able to participate fully in physical activities.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is her policy to continue the Opening Schools Facilities funding.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
This government is determined to create the healthiest generation ever and break down the barriers to opportunity for every child.
We are working across government to ensure that our funding is coherent and effectively contributes to a lasting and sustainable impact on children’s physical activity levels and the provision of more opportunities for all children to participate in sport. The work sits alongside that of other system levers, for instance the Curriculum and Assessment Review which is examining how to deliver a curriculum which is rich and broad, so that children and young people do not miss out on subjects such as sport.
The Opening School Facilities programme will end in March as planned. The learning from the programme will help inform the department’s ongoing work to support high-quality PE, school sport and physical activity for all pupils.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to sixth-forms to transition from providing BTECs to T-Levels, including with securing industry placements.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The department has extensive packages of support available to ensure schools with sixth forms, sixth form colleges and other providers are prepared to deliver T Levels. This includes:
The department has invested £245 million over the past four years to help providers prepare for industry placements and build relationships with local employers. We recently announced a £12 million employer support fund to reimburse employers for the costs of offering placements. The ‘Connect with employers interested in T Levels’ service enables providers to find employers in their area.