Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ranil Jayawardena and Sam Gyimah

Monday 25th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gyimah]

That is a very good question. We have subject-level enhancement courses for teachers. Also, there is a £26,000 tax-free allowance to attract teachers into the sector to teach STEM subjects. We are also helping to improve their skills as they go through the system.

[Mr Ranil Jayawardena (North East Hampshire) (Con)]

15. What assessment he has made of the effect of the free school and academy programmes on GCSE results.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ranil Jayawardena and Sam Gyimah

Monday 25th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Graham Evans (Weaver Vale) (Con)]

5. What progress the Government have made on implementing their policy to provide 30 hours of free childcare for working parents.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

We are making rapid and substantial progress towards our manifesto commitment to provide 30 hours of free childcare for working families. The Chancellor has committed to an increase in funding for free places of more than £1 billion a year by 2020. The Report stage and Third Reading of the Childcare Bill will take place this afternoon, and early implementation is on track for this autumn, with full roll-out in 2017.

[Mr Jayawardena]

In rural areas, nurseries are often smaller which can result in higher costs per pupil. Can the Minister assure me that those nurseries will not be adversely affected, and will he visit my constituency to see some of those nurseries at first hand?

[Mr Gyimah]

May I reassure my hon. Friend that our review of childcare costs, in consultation with the sector, took into account the cost of childcare for every type of provider right across the country? We have announced an increase in the average national funding rate from £4.56 an hour to £4.88 for three and four-year-olds from 2017-18 and will be consulting to ensure that that reaches the frontline. In response to my hon. Friend’s request, I would be delighted to visit nurseries in Hampshire, which, I know, are at the forefront of innovation in the sector.