Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his Department's policy that residential schools should be required to notify (a) Ofsted or (b) the Independent Schools Inspectorate on allegations of child sexual abuse.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
It is not part of current policy that residential schools should notify Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate on allegations of child abuse. Statutory guidance in “Keeping Children Safe in Education” requires all schools to refer allegations of abuse against children to the local authority, who are the relevant agency to investigate.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to implement a nationally agreed framework that sets out the expectations for supported living of (a) care leavers and (b) children in care.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
This is a priority area for this government. We are already considering where further changes should be made to ensure that semi-independent and independent settings are used appropriately and that they are of good quality. As set out in the manifesto, we are also committed to undertaking a review of the care system, considering how we support vulnerable children and young people in order to meet their needs and improve their outcomes.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the relationship between child poverty and demand on children's services.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Children in Need review: final data and analysis, published in June 2019, found a moderate correlation between Looked After Children rates in 2018 and the percentage of children in low-income families in 2016. This is available in figure 5d, p.11 & 12 from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/809108/CIN_review_final_analysis_publication.pdf.
Comprehensive data on trends in the numbers and characteristics of children in need are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-children-in-need#history.
In preparation for the Spending Review, to help ensure decisions are based on the best available evidence, the government is working with the sector to develop a sharper and more granular picture of demand for children’s services.
As set out in the Manifesto, the government is committed to undertaking a review of the care system that covers the key issues facing vulnerable children and young people.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the timetable is for the release of the analysis of serious case reviews from 2015 to 2018.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s first national review focuses on what can be done to protect children who are threatened and exploited by criminal gangs. The date for publication is being determined, as is that for the triennial analysis of serious case reviews, 2014 to 2017. We expect that both documents will be published in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the timetable is for the publication of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel First National Review.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s first national review focuses on what can be done to protect children who are threatened and exploited by criminal gangs. The date for publication is being determined, as is that for the triennial analysis of serious case reviews, 2014 to 2017. We expect that both documents will be published in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that unsafe combustible cladding is removed from student accommodation.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We are pleased to see that the engagement with the letter of 18 November from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to all 138 higher education institutions has had a 100% response rate.
The safety of pupils, students and staff remains ministers’ highest priority. Since the Grenfell fire, the department has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as part of the cross government programme to remediate buildings with potentially dangerous cladding, including student accommodation. That approach will continue, and we welcome the package of measures to improve building safety standards announced on 20 January by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. We are already looking at ways to ensure the education estate complies fully with the updated advice to building owners, announced as part of that package, on actions they should take in relation to cladding.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many university vice-chancellors have replied to his letter of November 2019 on the issue of fire safety procedures and safeguards across university residential, teaching and research accommodation.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
We are pleased to see that the engagement with the letter of 18 November from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to all 138 higher education institutions has had a 100% response rate.
The safety of pupils, students and staff remains ministers’ highest priority. Since the Grenfell fire, the department has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as part of the cross government programme to remediate buildings with potentially dangerous cladding, including student accommodation. That approach will continue, and we welcome the package of measures to improve building safety standards announced on 20 January by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. We are already looking at ways to ensure the education estate complies fully with the updated advice to building owners, announced as part of that package, on actions they should take in relation to cladding.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has forecast the number of children in need requiring support from children's services in each of the next five years.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Department for Education does not publish forecasts of future demand for children’s social care. Comprehensive data on past trends in the numbers and characteristics of children in need are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-children-in-need#history.
In preparation for the Spending Review, to help ensure decisions are based on the best available evidence, the government is working with the sector to develop a sharper and more granular picture of future demand for children’s services
And, as set out in the Manifesto, the government is committed to undertaking a review of the care system that covers the key issues facing vulnerable children and young people.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2020 to Question 3230, on Children and Young People, what data his Department holds on the number of times the comprehensive children’s rights training package has been undertaken.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
630 civil servants completed this training package between its launch on 20 November 2018 and 31 December 2019.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children in care placed in homes more than 50 miles from their home are in provision rated (a) Outstanding, (b) Good, (c) Requires Improvement, and (d) Inadequate by Ofsted.
Answered by Michelle Donelan - Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.