Contributions
1,271 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, it is incredibly sad to think about the lack of the protective good for children in schools during this time. I am pleased that the £1.6 million for the NSPCC helpline…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, as I outlined, we are keen to ensure that the narrowing of the attainment gap is not lost during this period. The £2.4 billion a year pupil premium, which is paid for…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the Government agree that the creative subjects and children’s cultural development are important. That is why music, art, design and drama are part of the national…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the recovery response to the virus in education is, of course, a national response, but we are obviously in touch with the devolved Administrations, at ministerial and…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, noble Lords are tempting me, but I am not permitted to—nor will I—steal the Secretary of State’s thunder. But I am aware, and can tell noble Lords, that, working on an…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningI am grateful to the noble Lord and, as someone who is also the product of state education, I know that there will be children falling behind because their education is not…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, since schools reopened for the priority year groups, testing has been available for staff, pupils and anyone in a household who displays symptoms. On summer schools, I…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the Government have been acting on this matter. We are working with the Education Endowment Foundation to make sure that the interventions we put in place to help these…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, from speaking to many teachers and multi-academy trust leaders, I know that they are concerned about the emotional stability and well-being of children when they…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the flexibility is to respect the professionals on the ground. Unfortunately, because of the specific risks that secondary pupils travel greater distances to school,…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the changes which this virus crisis has brought about to how children learn are unprecedented. The move to remote learning and to the use of technology will change some…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, I am glad to join the noble Lord, Lord Watson, in his desire to welcome everyone back to education. It is the Department for Education’s desire and ambition to see all…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, over this period the department has published guidance on a number of matters. We have aimed to get the balance right between guidance and respecting the professionals…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, obviously the plan is to bring all students back to school in September if the scientific evidence allows for that. In relation to international students, there has been…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, throughout the crisis, those children with an EHC plan—the overwhelming majority, if not all, of the children in special schools—have had a school place available to…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, the department’s ambition is obviously to offer universal catch-up provision for all students in our schools but with a particular focus on those who are disadvantaged.…11 Jun 2020HANSARDEducation Settings: Wider OpeningMy Lords, I assure my noble friend that the Secretary of State is listening carefully to the suggestions from Mr Halfon, as chair of the Education Select Committee. As I said, a…11 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meal Vouchers SchemeMy Lords, the provision through the free school meal vouchers system is at a higher rate than what is normally provided to schools to provide free school meals, due to the…10 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meal Vouchers SchemeMy Lords, the Government remain committed to ensuring that the most disadvantaged children continue to be supported while schools remain closed. The free school meal vouchers…10 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meal Vouchers SchemeMy Lords, budgeting is indeed a skill needed by many households, particularly those on limited income. Before the Covid crisis hit, there was an almost 16% increase in the Budget…10 Jun 2020