Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of increased opportunities for outdoor play and outdoor learning in primary schools on (a) educational attainment, (b) attention spans, (c) behaviour, and (d) wellbeing.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department believes that outdoor play and outdoor learning can be a valuable part of a rich and broad education, for example in physical education and geography, or a school’s enrichment offer. Nature, outdoors and adventure is one of five categories of enrichment set out in the new Enrichment Framework for schools and colleges. The link for this framework can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-enrichment-framework-for-schools-and-colleges.
Current UK and international evidence, including work supported by the department and the University of Oxford, shows that school-based nature programmes benefit young people’s mental health and wellbeing, particularly by reducing stress and anxiety. The studies suggest that greater access to green space in schools is associated with lower rates of pupil absence. The study in question can be found here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829226000997.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the capacity of schools to deliver the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark across all regions of England.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.
The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.
This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to work with zoos and other outdoor learning providers to support delivery of the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.
The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.
This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support schools to deliver the nature, outdoor and adventure enrichment benchmark, including through sufficient funding.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department has published a new enrichment framework with benchmarks to provide a clear structure against which schools can evaluate and make considered improvements to their offer, including nature, outdoors and adventure provision. Baroness Grey-Thompson has been appointed as Nature, Outdoors and Adventure Ambassador, to highlight effective enrichment practice, and help develop and expand opportunities for young people.
The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the department are working in partnership to deliver, will work with over 400 schools to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. The programme will support connections between providers and organisations (including, for example, zoos), and schools, enabling pupils to take advantage of the expertise, capacity and experiences available.
This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes which can support schools with enrichment, for example National Education Nature Parks. DCMS’s Every Child Can programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the 5 enrichment categories within the framework, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of increasing funding for outdoor play and learning opportunities in schools in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Each year, schools receive core funding from the department to cover their expenditures. The funding schools receive is not ringfenced for any specific form of expenditure, and it is for each school to determine how this money will be best used to support their individual circumstances. That includes expenditures on outdoor play and learning opportunities.
Through the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Surrey local authority, which allocates funding for Surrey Heath, is receiving £6,361 per pupil on average in the 2026/27 financial year (including premises funding but excluding growth funding). That is a 2.5% increase in funding per pupil compared to the 2025/26 financial year.
Asked by: Gareth Davies (Conservative - Grantham and Bourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what impact assessment her Department has carried out in relation to the standard of fire safety in schools following the publication of ‘Technical requirements for the design and construction of school and college buildings and outdoor environments’, dated January 2026, and associated change in requirement to follow BB 100 (2007 version).
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department's fire safety guidance is set out in Building Bulletin 100, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-bulletin-100-design-for-fire-safety-in-schools.
All new school buildings must comply with building regulations and be signed off by a registered building inspector. Where automatic fire suppression systems (sprinklers) are considered necessary to protect pupils and staff, they must be installed.
Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of guaranteeing every child the opportunity to attend an outdoor residential on pupils' wellbeing.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government recognises outdoor opportunities as a valuable part of the childhood experiences we want all children and young people to have.
Participation in enrichment activities can be associated with a range of positive outcomes, including wellbeing, life satisfaction and better mental health.
Our enrichment framework, published on 15 June, sets an expectation that all schools and colleges should offer a broad and well-rounded enrichment offer. Access to nature, outdoors and adventure, including camps, is specifically identified as one of the five areas that offers should cover as a minimum and highlights examples of offers including residentials.
The department is supporting the provision of more opportunities through the £132 million ‘Every Child Can’ programme and will be supporting 400 schools in deprived areas to develop offers in line with the benchmarks through our £22.5 million Enrichment Enhancement Programme. We will also be working to grow provision in areas where access is limited, working with Baroness Grey-Thompson as enrichment ambassador for this area.
Asked by: Maya Ellis (Labour - Ribble Valley)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered introducing an entitlement to an outdoor residential experience for every child during their time at school.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government recognises outdoor opportunities as a valuable part of the childhood experiences we want all children and young people to have.
Participation in enrichment activities can be associated with a range of positive outcomes, including wellbeing, life satisfaction and better mental health.
Our enrichment framework, published on 15 June, sets an expectation that all schools and colleges should offer a broad and well-rounded enrichment offer. Access to nature, outdoors and adventure, including camps, is specifically identified as one of the five areas that offers should cover as a minimum and highlights examples of offers including residentials.
The department is supporting the provision of more opportunities through the £132 million ‘Every Child Can’ programme and will be supporting 400 schools in deprived areas to develop offers in line with the benchmarks through our £22.5 million Enrichment Enhancement Programme. We will also be working to grow provision in areas where access is limited, working with Baroness Grey-Thompson as enrichment ambassador for this area.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the answer to of 22 October 2025 to Written Question 101953 on Primary Education: School Libraries, published on 12 January 2026, how her Department will allocate funding for the creation of primary school libraries, in the context of the absence of centrally held data.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Every Child Can will invest £132.5 million of dormant assets funding to increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities exclusively across five key categories of enrichment: civic engagement; arts and culture; nature, outdoor and adventure; sport and physical activities; and developing wider life and future skills. This includes a £12.5 million investment to meet our commitment to provide a library in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament.
The Libraries in Primaries programme - the first announced under Every Child Can - intends to extend provision to approximately 1,675 schools across England. It will prioritise schools with above-average free school meal eligibility, ensuring support reaches those with the greatest need, and schools with high SEND provision or additional needs will receive enhanced funding. The programme is led by the National Literacy Trust and is fully funded, meaning eligible schools receive this support at no cost.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing legislation that mirrors the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The government recognises outdoor opportunities as a valuable part of the childhood experiences we want all children and young people to have.
Our Enrichment Framework, published on 15 June, sets an expectation that all schools and colleges should offer a broad and well-rounded enrichment offer. Access to nature, outdoors and adventure, including residentials and camps, is specifically identified as one of the five areas that offers should cover as a minimum and highlights examples of offers including residentials.
We are supporting the provision of more opportunities through the £132 million Every Child Can programme and will be supporting 400 schools in deprived areas to develop offers in line with the benchmarks through our £22.5 million Enrichment Enhancement Programme. We will also be working to grow provision in areas where access is limited, working with Baroness Grey-Thompson as enrichment ambassador for this area.