Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Dec 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"Parents and pupils deserve a school system that builds on success, not one that holds it back. The coalition Government opened 24 free schools in 500 days, yet this Government have spent over 400 days reviewing 44 already-approved schools. Free schools outperform non-selective state schools at every key stage, so …..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 01 Dec 2025
Oral Answers to Questions
"13. What her planned timetable is for decision on existing free school applications. ..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 04 Jul 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"At the YMCA young carers festival which was held at Fairthorne Manor on Saturday, I learned that there was no central Government guidance for schools on providing support for young carers. Attendance policies can have a detrimental impact on their education and mental health. How will the Minister bring central …..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 07 Jun 2022
Children’s Education Recovery and Childcare Costs
"I remind the House that, if we had followed the Leader of the Opposition’s advice, children would have been out of school for even longer. The Government have put £5 billion into catch-up costs for teachers, schools and pupils. From the shadow Secretary of State’s magic money tree, how much …..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 07 Jun 2022
Children’s Education Recovery and Childcare Costs
"I thank the Minister for outlining the measures that the Government are taking. When I was a special adviser at the Department for Education, we were constantly hearing from members of the profession about the difficulty of recruiting and retaining good teachers to continue educational attainment through primary and secondary …..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 23 May 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"13. What steps his Department is taking to invest in education in low-performing areas. ..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 23 May 2022
Oral Answers to Questions
"Does the Secretary of State agree that as well as funding, data and transparency matter so that we can monitor things, act quickly and see that the plans that we have announced are working to improve schools right across Eastleigh?..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 26 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
" What support his Department is providing to help children catch up on learning lost during the covid-19 outbreak. ..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 26 Apr 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"As we support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in returning to the classroom, ensuring that they have routines and structures in place to help them reach their potential will be essential. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we cannot overestimate the importance of promoting behaviour and discipline in schools in …..."Paul Holmes - View Speech
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Written Question
Wednesday 11th March 2020
Asked by:
Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to (a) encourage young people to read and (b) promote reading for pleasure in (i) Eastleigh constituency, (ii) England and (iii) the UK.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department is committed to continuing to raise literacy standards – ensuring all children can read fluently and with understanding.
Literacy skills are underpinned by communication and language skills developed in the early years. Our proposed reforms to the Early Years Foundation Stage, including revisions to the curriculum activities and assessment goals under the seven areas of learning, are intended to improve early language and literacy outcomes for all children. We have also launched Hungry Little Minds – a three-year campaign to encourage parents to engage in activities that support their child’s language and literacy. The Hungry Little Minds website gives parents access to video tips, advice and suggested apps and games to help with early learning for their children from age 0 to 5.
Evidence has shown that phonics is a highly effective component in the development of early reading skills, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our phonics performance is improving. In 2019, 82% of pupils in Year 1 met the expected standard in the phonics screening check, compared to just 58% when the check was introduced in 2012.
Reflecting our commitment to encouraging early reading, in 2018 we launched the £26.3 million English Hubs Programme. We have appointed 34 primary schools across England as English Hubs. The English Hubs programme is supporting nearly 3,000 schools across England to improve their teaching of reading through systematic synthetic phonics, early language development, and reading for pleasure. The English Hubs are focused on improving educational outcomes for the most disadvantaged pupils in Reception and Year 1. To note, Springhill Catholic Primary School in Southampton is an English Hub, and covers Eastleigh and other constituencies.
Education is a devolved matter and the Department is only responsible for policy in England. The Scottish and Welsh Governments are responsible for education policy in Scotland and Wales.