Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to ensure that pupils at schools that may have lost teaching time as a result of disruption caused by the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are not at a disadvantage when sitting GCSE exams in summer 2024.
Answered by Nick Gibb
It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an estimate of the total annual cost of providing (a) 30 hours a week of universal childcare for 48 weeks a year for children aged nine months to two years, (b) 30 hours a week of universal childcare for 48 weeks a year for children aged three and four, (c) 8.00am to 6.00pm wraparound for all primary-aged children and (d) 10 hours a day holiday childcare for 10 weeks a year for all primary-aged children assuming a (i) 50, (ii) 60 and (iii) 70 per cent take up of that provision.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
Making predictions about the future costs of extended early years and childcare provision is complex, and subject to significant uncertainty. It requires predicting the size of future cohorts of children as well as making assumptions about the rate at which the government will fund provision, which would be subject to consultation, how many parents will take up new offers and for how long.
The department funds 15 hours a week of early education and care for all 3- and 4-year-olds in England for 38 weeks a year. It funds an additional 15 hours a week of early education and care for 3- and 4-year-olds in working families, also for 38 weeks a year. The department also funds 15 hours of free early education for disadvantaged 2-year-olds, which includes children with education, health and care (EHC) plans and looked after children, as well as families on low incomes. Further information is available at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The department does not fund wraparound care for primary aged children. The department does fund the Holiday Activities and Food programme to disadvantaged children in England. At Spending Review 2021, the department announced it is investing over £200 million per year.
The department publishes funding allocations for its existing early education entitlements for children aged 2, 3 and 4. Further information is available at: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1124737%2FEarly_years_funding_rates_and_step-by-step_calculations_2023_to_2024.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK. These funding rates are not applicable to children aged from 9 months to 1 years old inclusive.
The Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey also includes information on the hourly fees providers charge parents of children under 2, age 2, 3 and 4, and school age, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents/2021.
Expanding current entitlement offers to all children aged between 2 and 4, wraparound care for all primary-age children and additional holiday childcare could be estimated using population data published by the Office of National Statistics, available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland.
Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of pupil funding in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Taking the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations and the additional funding announced in the Autumn Statement together, core schools funding is increasing by £3.5 billion in 2023/24, compared to 2022/23. By 2024/25, the core schools budget will total £58.8 billion, the highest level of investment in real terms per-pupil on record.
Asked by: Paul Howell (Conservative - Sedgefield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether funding for the PE and sport premium will continue at current levels for the 2023-24 school year.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Improving school sport and physical education (PE) is a key priority. The Department recognises the important role the PE and sport premium plays in helping schools ensure that children and young people play sport and keep fit.
We are considering arrangements for the Primary PE and sport premium for the 2023/24 academic year and beyond and will confirm the position as early as possible.