Contributions
462 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEducationWe have a universal SEND services programme, which more than 11,000 staff have already accessed to improve their knowledge and skills. We are also funding the training of 7,000…23 Jan 2024HANSARDChildren Not in School: National Register and SupportThis Government are committed to giving every child in this country a first-class education and every opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Although there is a small…23 Jan 2024HANSARDEducationWe have a universal SEND services programme, which more than 11,000 staff have already accessed to improve their knowledge and skills. We are also funding the training of 7,000…23 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareThe hon. Lady cites the figures for September 2025, not for April. I am confident that, in April, she will see that we have the staff available for the roll-out.22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareWe certainly support state-maintained nurseries, which play a vital role in the sector. I would be delighted to meet the hon. Lady to discuss that particular case.22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI am glad that the hon. Gentleman has welcomed our announcements on childcare, although Members on the Opposition Front Bench have not done so. We are in close contact with local…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareMy right hon. Friend has written some articles, which I have read, proposing that very idea. We think that our present system is the best way of achieving what we want to achieve,…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareWe set our rates by conducting a survey of 10,000 providers, in order to understand the costs they face and set the rates accordingly. [Official Report, 30 January 2024, Vol. 744,…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI set out in my statement the additional money that we had given to the sector in the last financial year and this one to help it to meet those cost pressures—that was anchored to…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareYes, and I hope that the hon. Lady will do so. We have taken an extra-cautious approach on this. A particular group of parents were affected and rather than just write to them, we…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareWe are in monthly contact with local authorities and at least monthly contact with providers about this. Some local authorities do take a long time to publish their rates. We are…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareWe are doing all we can to help providers meet the funding pressures. It is important for Members of the House to understand that there is a difference between the fall in the…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the increased cost pressures that everybody has to face. That is why we gave an additional £204 million in the last financial…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI will try to pick out the questions from the bluster. On the £120 million, this is a specific issue that affects September 2024 onwards, where we allocated to local authorities…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareThe hon. Gentleman has made an important point, and he is entirely right. We have heard from great organisations such as Dingley’s Promise that providers have not given places to…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI thank my hon. Friend, who has also done a lot to champion the sector and to raise awareness of the challenge it faces. He is right that we need to get more people into the…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareThe current legislation states that people cannot access Government money for looking after their own children, although it can happen in a larger setting. We have no plans to…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI hope Charlotte and Persephone enjoy their nursery provision here, which I am sure is among the 96% of early years providers that are good or outstanding. My hon. Friend is right…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareI am not sure what the hon. Lady means when she says that people in Bristol cannot access the system, but if she sends me the details, I shall be happy at look at them, because, I…22 Jan 2024HANSARD Funded ChildcareAs I have already said, the roll-out is based on—22 Jan 2024