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Written Question
Children in Care
Monday 19th October 2015

Asked by: Stephen McPartland (Conservative - Stevenage)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to extend Ofsted inspections to semi-independent care provision for 16 to 18 year olds; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Edward Timpson

Local Authorities are responsible for ensuring that 16-and 17-year-olds that are either looked after or care leavers, are placed in safe and suitable accommodation. Statutory guidance sets out the factors that local authorities must take into account when determining the suitability of accommodation. The full guidance can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-transition-to-adulthood-for-care-leavers


Since 2013, Ofsted inspections of local authorities’ children’s social care services have included a separate sub-judgement on care leavers, which includes an assessment of whether the local authority is ensuring that care leavers have access to suitable accommodation. In particular, Ofsted inspect whether:


  • Accommodation for care leavers is appropriate for each young person to safely develop their independence skills;
  • Care leavers are safe and feel safe, particularly where they are living;
  • Care leavers are helped to find housing solutions that best meet their needs; and
  • Risks of tenancy breakdown are identified and alternative plans are put in place.

The government recognises that more needs to be done to improve care leavers’ outcomes and is considering how it can build on the achievements of the first ever cross-government care leaver strategy which was introduced in October 2013. This will include consideration of what can be done to drive further improvement in the quality of accommodation that care leavers receive.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Sep 2015
Education and Adoption Bill

"I have a lot of sympathy with the line that the hon. Gentleman is taking. From talking to a number of my constituents, I am concerned that meeting organisations six or seven times a week is seen as support, whereas adoptive families need actual, real support...."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Education and Adoption Bill
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 20 Jul 2015
Oral Answers to Questions

"T2. What support will the Minister offer primary schools that are trying to improve literacy standards for all pupils so that no child leaves school unable to read and write?..."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Education: Standards
Monday 20th July 2015

Asked by: Stephen McPartland (Conservative - Stevenage)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential correlation between the quality of personal, social, health and economic education provision at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools and the Ofsted results at those schools; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Edward Timpson

We believe that all young people should leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. High quality PSHE teaching has a vital role to play in this, helping young people understand the world around them, building resilience and helping them to make informed choices and stay safe.

In March 2015, we published a review of current impact and effective practice that shows that PSHE can improve a range of outcomes including the physical and psychosocial well-being of pupils, and improved classroom and playground behaviour. Good PSHE provision can lead to school-wide improvements.

We are committed to improving the quality of PSHE in all schools, and will work with the sector to achieve this.

Written Question
Arts: Primary Education
Wednesday 17th June 2015

Asked by: Stephen McPartland (Conservative - Stevenage)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to promote the creative curriculum in primary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

We recognise that the arts form an integral part of a child’s education and believe strongly that every child should experience a high-quality arts and cultural education throughout their time at school.

Music, and art and design are statutory subjects in the national curriculum and must be studied by all pupils in maintained primary schools from the age of five.

In addition, for 2012-16, we have allocated over £470 million to a diverse range of music and arts education programmes that are designed to improve access to the arts and culture for all children, regardless of their background, and to develop talent across the country.

These programmes include support for 123 music education hubs, which are charged with ensuring that every child sings and learns to play a musical instrument, the Shakespeare Schools Festival, and programmes designed to encourage more primary school pupils to visit museums and to understand their local heritage.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 27 Oct 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"7. What steps the Government have taken to improve participation rates of female pupils taking STEM subjects...."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 27 Oct 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"I am glad that the Women’s Engineering Society is based in Stevenage. The WES and I are concerned that, although young women enjoy science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, they do not associate them with a career choice. Will the Secretary of State join me in welcoming “Sparks”, the new …..."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 01 Jul 2014
Skills and Training Facilities

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. This is an important debate about improving skills and training facilities in small cities and towns, and the subject is close to my heart. In my maiden speech four years ago I said that

“here in the UK, it …..."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Skills and Training Facilities
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 01 Jul 2014
Skills and Training Facilities

"I could not agree more. Apprenticeship fairs are powerful tools. I held a jobs fair recently in my constituency at which a large number of people—employers, people from educational institutions and young people—came together. That led to a number of people getting apprenticeships...."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Skills and Training Facilities
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 01 Jul 2014
Skills and Training Facilities

"I completely agree. That is an important point.

The target I set myself was to help 1,000 young people into apprenticeships in my first term in Parliament. I am delighted with the progress that has been made in Stevenage in the past four years. Six weeks ago in Prime Minister’s …..."
Stephen McPartland - View Speech

View all Stephen McPartland (Con - Stevenage) contributions to the debate on: Skills and Training Facilities