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Written Question
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Monday 14th November 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adding financial education to the primary school national curriculum; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of Talk Money Week for encouraging financial literacy among young people; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Nick Gibb

Education on financial matters helps to ensure that young people are prepared to manage their money well, make sound financial decisions, and know where to seek further information when needed.

The current mathematics curriculum at primary level includes financial education, including calculations with money and using percentages, which provides young people with the knowledge to make important financial decisions.

Primary schools can also teach financial education through citizenship. This is not part of the National Curriculum until Key Stage 3, but the Department has published a non-statutory citizenship curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2, to support schools to inform pupils of the benefits of saving.

There are resources available for schools, including the Money and Pension Service’s (MaPS) financial education guidance for primary and secondary schools in England. The guidance is available at: https://maps.org.uk/2021/11/11/financial-education-guidance-for-primary-and-secondary-schools-in-england/. The Department is working with MaPS on a series of joint financial education webinars during the 2022/23 academic year, to help both primary and secondary schools, to improve pupils’ skills and knowledge and build teachers’ confidence in this area.

The Department supports wider initiatives that aim to improve financial confidence and resilience, including Talk Money Week, which is led by MaPS. Talk Money Week is useful for encouraging all UK citizens, including at home, within families and at school, to talk openly about managing money. Departmental officials will continue to work closely with MaPS and other stakeholders such as HM Treasury, to consider what can be learned from such initiatives and how to provide further support for the teaching of financial education in schools.


Written Question
Special Educational Needs
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department expects to publish the results of the SEND Green Paper consultation.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

The department will publish a national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) improvement plan later this year, setting out our next steps for implementation and response to the consultation.


Written Question
Alternative Education and Special Educational Needs
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department's timescale is for publishing the results of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) green paper consultation.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

The department will publish a national Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) improvement plan later this year, setting out our next steps for implementation and response to the consultation.


Written Question
Children: Mental Capacity
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children subject to a deprivation of Liberty Order are of (a) black African and (b) Caribbean heritage broken down by gender.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

The department does not collect information on the number or characteristics of children subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Order.

However, the President of the Family Division has established a national Deprivation of Liberty Court, which is to be supported by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. This aims to improve our understanding of the cases that are being heard by the Court, and to understand more about what can be done to better meet the needs of the children involved. More information is available at: https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/news/nuffield-family-justice-observatory-to-monitor-data-from-new-national-dols-deprivation-of-liberty-court.

The latest information on the number of children looked after is available in the statistical release ‘Children looked after in England’ available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions.


Written Question
Children in Care: Mental Capacity
Wednesday 21st September 2022

Asked by: Virendra Sharma (Labour - Ealing, Southall)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children are (a) in care and (b) subject to a deprivation of liberty Order as of 6 September 2022.

Answered by Kelly Tolhurst

The department does not collect information on the number or characteristics of children subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Order.

However, the President of the Family Division has established a national Deprivation of Liberty Court, which is to be supported by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. This aims to improve our understanding of the cases that are being heard by the Court, and to understand more about what can be done to better meet the needs of the children involved. More information is available at: https://www.nuffieldfjo.org.uk/news/nuffield-family-justice-observatory-to-monitor-data-from-new-national-dols-deprivation-of-liberty-court.

The latest information on the number of children looked after is available in the statistical release ‘Children looked after in England’ available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions.


Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Children’s Social Care Workforce

"Before I ask the mover to move the motion, we expect two votes around 5 o’clock. Once the votes are called, I will suspend the sitting for 25 minutes. If hon. Members come back early, we can start early, but that will be the procedure, so it is up to …..."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Social Care Workforce

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Children’s Social Care Workforce

"Order...."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Social Care Workforce

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Children’s Social Care Workforce

"The debate will now continue until 5.55 pm. I hope there are no Divisions before that. I call Mick Whitley...."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Social Care Workforce

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Children’s Social Care Workforce

"We intend to finish by 5.55 pm. I am sure that I do not need to remind the Minister, but he should allow the mover of the motion a couple of minutes to wind up, and give me about a minute to complete the sitting...."
Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Social Care Workforce

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 20 Jul 2022
Children’s Social Care Workforce

"Order. Thank you very much, everybody.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered the children’s social care workforce...."

Virendra Sharma - View Speech

View all Virendra Sharma (Lab - Ealing, Southall) contributions to the debate on: Children’s Social Care Workforce