Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he is taking steps to (a) issue guidance and (b) provide support for teachers where their pupils schooling has been impacted by the financial situation of their families, in the context of the cost of living crisis; and what assessment he has made of the impact of rising energy costs on school's budgets to provide support for low-income pupils.

The Department continues to assess and monitor the effects of inflationary pressures on schools’ budgets. This includes working with schools to understand the effects on low-income pupils.

The 2022 Autumn Statement has provided an additional net increase in the core schools budget of £2 billion in 2023/24, and a further £2 billion in 2024/25, over and above totals announced at the Autumn and Budget Spending Review 2021. This brings the core schools budget to a total of £58.8 billion in 2024/25. This will enable head teachers to continue to concentrate funding in the areas that positively support educational attainment. The 2022 Autumn Statement brings school funding for both mainstream and high needs to £4 billion higher than last year and will rise by a further £3.5 billion next year.

There will be targeted support for disadvantaged pupils through the pupil premium and the National Funding Formula (NFF). In the 2022/23 financial year, the Department is allocating approximately £2,000 per pupil, for all pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years. In total, this is an increase of 15% funding in two years.

From October 2022 to 31 March 2023, schools will benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This will provide a price reduction to protect them from high energy bills over the winter period.

The Department’s schools resource management (SRM) guidance includes Department approved frameworks for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy. Schools can obtain free procurement support on energy and all other buying needs via the Get Help Buying for Schools service.

The Government is offering support to help families with the costs of childcare, housing, transport, and bills. The ‘Help for Households’ guidance lists Government cost of living support available to families.