Contributions
3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFree Childcare SchemeIt is slightly curious to say that delivery is falling short when the new entitlements start in April of this year. The noble Baroness knows that we have made a significant…20 Mar 2024HANSARDFree Childcare SchemeThat is exactly what the Government are delivering, and exactly those calculations were behind the Government’s decision to make such an increase. In 2027-28, we will be spending…20 Mar 2024HANSARDFree Childcare SchemeI am not sure time permits me to go into everything regarding Sure Start, but I draw the noble Lord’s attention to the family hubs that the Government are rolling out around the…20 Mar 2024HANSARDFree Childcare SchemeSome people might recognise that the Government are making a very substantial investment in this area. We have already spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to…20 Mar 2024HANSARDSchool Meals for ChildrenAs my noble friend hints, exercise has a very positive impact on physical health and, crucially, on mental health.20 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsThe noble Baroness is right about the success of appeals, but I point out that just over 2.3% of all decisions went to appeal. Although the success rate is very high, the level of…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsI thank my noble friend for the work she does as chief executive of Cerebral Palsy Scotland. She raised an important point and is absolutely right. In our schools and colleges,…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsThe Government are acting on a number of those issues. On diagnostic testing, as the noble Lord well knows, our approach is that the child should not need a diagnosis to be…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsThe Government have made a huge amount of progress, and a very significant financial commitment working closely with those on the ground. As I said, we have announced £2.6 billion…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsMy Lords, provision is reviewed regularly through school and local area inspections. Schools must demonstrate that children with SEND achieve good outcomes in order to be judged…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsI tried to address some of the points that the right reverend Prelate raised in my answer to the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins. We definitely do not want a world where only pushy…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsThe noble Lord raises a very relevant point—the wider issue of how parents can be aware of how our special educational needs system works, feel confident in it and understand how…19 Mar 2024HANSARDSchools: Special Needs PupilsI am sorry to hear about the struggles of the noble Baroness’s grandson. Of course we want our schools to be well equipped to respond to a range of special educational needs and…19 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsI remind the noble Baroness that teacher numbers are at an all-time high. I do not deny that there are recruitment challenges, but it is important to be fair about the context. I…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsI agree with the noble Earl. Independent schools have shown themselves to be areas of great innovation, but we also see important innovation in our state sector. Particularly…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsI absolutely agree with my noble friend, and I thank Brentwood School and other schools involved in the types of partnerships that he described. We have such an asset in our…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsMy Lords, independent schools are a small but incredibly important part of our school system. The independent sector is extremely diverse: it includes large, prestigious schools…18 Mar 2024HANSARDGender Recognition (Approved Countries and Territories and Saving Provision) Order 2023That the draft Order laid before the House on 6 December 2023 be approved. Considered in Grand Committee on 12 March .18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsNoble Lords opposite can heckle from the Front Bench, but there is a serious question about how many parents will decide that they can no longer afford the fees. Given how a…18 Mar 2024HANSARDIndependent SchoolsThat is a real risk. Your Lordships may have seen recent research published by the Adam Smith Institute that pointed this out.18 Mar 2024