Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Department's announcement on 30 April 2018 on early language skills, how much of the £8.5 million Early Years Social Mobility Peer Review Programme he expects to be spent on the development of effective strategies to improve outcomes through the effective use of children’s centres.

The social mobility action plan, ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’, sets a clear direction for all those who have a part to play, including those responsible for children’s centres. Our focus now is on delivering this, including through £10 million investment to build the evidence base for what works, and the £8.5 million local government programme, working with the Local Government Association. Through this programme of local authority peer support and challenge we will work with sector leaders to identify best practice in closing the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers, including through children’s centres.

The peer review programme will explore the effectiveness of a range of local services, including the use of children’s centres, in improving early language outcomes for disadvantaged children at age five. Further information about the funding for the programme will be announced in due course.