Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to provide additional funding to expand enhanced resource bases.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
In December, the department announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in 2025/26. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, including resourced provision. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.
We will publish local authorities’ allocation of the £740 million funding later in the spring.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure sustainable funding for (a) mainstream education and (b) SEND provision in (i) South Cambridgeshire constituency and (ii) other areas.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make a comparative assessment of per-pupil funding in South Cambridgeshire constituency with other regions.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding she plans to provide to schools in South Cambridgeshire in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to address regional disparities in school funding.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will making it her policy to review the national funding formula for schools and high needs.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the adequacy of the level of funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.
Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.
Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.
The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.
The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.
Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.
The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.
In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of children travelling to school by (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling on learning.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The publication ’Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report’, states that the benefits for young people of doing regular physical exercise include improved learning and attainment. The full publication can be read here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d839543ed915d52428dc134/uk-chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf.
Active Travel England (ATE) is the government’s executive agency responsible for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling as the preferred choice of travel in England. They are responsible for a number of schemes which promote active travel to school. For instance, ATE has published School Streets guidance for local authorities in England. A School Street is a road outside a school with a restriction on motorised traffic at the start and end of the school day. The guidance can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-streets-how-to-set-up-and-manage-a-scheme.
Additionally, they provide funding for the Modeshift STARS education scheme, which recognises schools and other educational establishments that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel. More information on the Modeshift STARS education scheme can be found here: https://modeshiftstars.org/education/.
ATE also provides funding for Bikeability, the government’s national cycle training programme. More information on Bikeability can be found here: https://www.bikeability.org.uk/.
Local authorities have a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel on journeys to and from places of education in their area. They must publish a sustainable modes of travel strategy which aims to provide health benefits for children and their families through active journeys and environmental improvements through reduced congestion and improved air quality. Further information is available in the department's statutory guidance for local authorities, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of increases to employers National Insurance contributions on home to school transport for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26397.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to monitor the adequacy of library provision in primary schools.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25143.