Contributions
962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDI thank my hon. Friend for his question, and also for all the work he has done in this area. We worked together when he was Minister for children and families and I was working in…29 Jan 2024HANSARDDegree-level ApprenticeshipsI could not agree more with my hon. Friend. Bexley’s apprenticeship event on 5 February will be a fantastic opportunity for local people to learn about the apprenticeships on…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDWe have been trying to increase the number of places within both mainstream and special educational needs and alternative provision settings. As I say, we have 108 more special…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDThe hon. Gentleman makes a vital point. Early identification is absolutely key in providing support and ensuring that it impacts the child as early as possible. I am very happy to…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDOur plan to introduce national consistency and standards will be published in 2025. We will deliver it through local partnerships and inclusion, digitise records, and make it much…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDWe are implementing a gold thread of high-quality teacher training reforms to ensure that teachers have the skills they need. The Department has been exploring opportunities to…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDThere are a number of things there. We have put £2.6 billion into increasing the number of places—Members across the House will have heard of additional school places in their…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSupport for Children with SENDThat is one reason the high-needs budget is up by over 60% in the past four years, and will reach £10.5 billion in 2024-25. We are also supporting local authorities with financial…29 Jan 2024HANSARDPersistent Pupil AbsenceEvery moment matters in school, and we have improved and increased our school standards. The most important thing is that children are now there. Thanks to our data, we can now…29 Jan 2024HANSARDDegree-level ApprenticeshipsThe Government have built one of the most powerful apprenticeship systems in the world, reaching nearly 700 different occupations, from level 2 through to master’s degree level 7.…29 Jan 2024HANSARDSchool AccountabilityFollowing the tragic death of Ruth Perry, the Department for Education and the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills—Ofsted—have today published their…19 Jan 2024HANSARDGender Questioning Children: Consultation on Guidance for Schools and CollegesI have been working closely with the Minister for Women and Equalities, my right hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Kemi Badenoch), on guidance for schools and colleges…19 Dec 2023HANSARDAdvanced British Standard: ConsultationIn October 2023 we announced our intention to create a new qualification framework: the advanced British standard (ABS). Today, we are announcing a 14-week consultation on this…14 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsYes. We have to compare and contrast that with Wales, which has the lowest educational standards in the UK. The simple answer to why that is, is that it is run by Labour. Under…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIndustrial Action: Impact on Children and ParentsLast year’s strikes were one of the biggest outbreaks of industrial action in a generation. Over 25 million school days were lost, with far-reaching consequences across our…11 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. It is a dreadful policy and it will have exactly the opposite impact. It will probably actually cost money and mean children moving schools,…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIndustrial Action: Impact on Children and ParentsOur young people should never be pawns in the disputes of adults. The behaviour of University and College Union members was disgraceful, and their actions caused untold disruption…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIndustrial Action: Impact on Children and ParentsThe hon. Member puts his finger on it. Industrial action has a massive impact, particularly on vulnerable children, those with special educational needs, and those in exam…11 Dec 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and for arranging the initial meetings with Julia Waters—Ruth’s sister, who I know is his constituent—and attending the first few. I…11 Dec 2023HANSARDPupils with SEN and DisabilitiesWe want all children to receive the right support to reach their full potential. That is why, since March, we have opened 14 new special free schools, with 78 more approved; we…11 Dec 2023