0:00:00 > 0:00:00join me later. First it has questions to the Education
0:00:00 > 0:00:04Secretary, Damian Hinds.
0:00:09 > 0:00:15We are committed we must tell children in need to achieve their
0:00:15 > 0:00:20full potential. On Friday we launched the Children in Need
0:00:20 > 0:00:22review, which will develop the evidence we can understand what
0:00:22 > 0:00:27makes a difference to these children's educational outcomes and
0:00:27 > 0:00:32what works to improve those outcomes in practice.I strongly welcomed the
0:00:32 > 0:00:46review that was. Will he commit to using the considerable data at his
0:00:46 > 0:00:49disposal to highlight those areas and those children who bucked the
0:00:49 > 0:00:56trend so we can learn from their example?My honourable friend has
0:00:56 > 0:00:59been a champion of Children in Need and the review is intended to
0:00:59 > 0:01:03establish best practice, it builds on work we already doing with our
0:01:03 > 0:01:05partners in practice local authorities which I announced in the
0:01:05 > 0:01:12expansion last week.Since 2010 the number of children on the child
0:01:12 > 0:01:17protection register is up 83% whilst we have seen the number of people in
0:01:17 > 0:01:24care at its highest since 1985. Does the Minister think the cuts in
0:01:24 > 0:01:27children's services since 2010 are the reason for this? If not to what
0:01:27 > 0:01:32does he ascribe these terrible outcomes for the most probable
0:01:32 > 0:01:38children in our society?Local authorities have an increasing their
0:01:38 > 0:01:41investment in children's services, I visited Hackney and Wigan and
0:01:41 > 0:01:46Doncaster. My impression is the real differentiator is leadership, which
0:01:46 > 0:01:50is why we are investing £2 million with the local government
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Association to look at leadership and the parliament in practice
0:01:54 > 0:01:57programme.Early intervention is critical to preventing children
0:01:57 > 0:02:03ending up as in need so why is the funding stop to the excellent sure
0:02:03 > 0:02:10start and home start projects?Local authorities do different things
0:02:10 > 0:02:16differently. I visited Stafford, and in Stafford and in Newcastle they
0:02:16 > 0:02:19have actually improved their outcomes for children in Need by
0:02:19 > 0:02:23reaching out to those families rather than investing in bricks and
0:02:23 > 0:02:26mortar. There are different ways of dealing with this, local authorities
0:02:26 > 0:02:35to this best.Research on his own department's figures showed children
0:02:35 > 0:02:40are ten times more likely to be on a child protection plan if they live
0:02:40 > 0:02:44in a deprived area. Before the end of this Parliament it is estimated
0:02:44 > 0:02:48child poverty will reach five million and the funding gap in
0:02:48 > 0:02:52statutory services will reach £2 billion. The Minister has said that
0:02:52 > 0:03:00strong leadership rather than extra funding is the key, so can he
0:03:00 > 0:03:06explain how strong leadership will end this crisis?Spending in local
0:03:06 > 0:03:12government is 200 billion on all services including children's
0:03:12 > 0:03:17services. We do see leadership as a driver of better outcomes for those
0:03:17 > 0:03:22children which is why we are making that investment, including the 15
0:03:22 > 0:03:26million that we announced for 8 million more partners in practice,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29which are helping local authorities that are struggling. For example
0:03:29 > 0:03:40Leeds is how ginkgo clears.The new national funding formula means
0:03:40 > 0:03:43funding will finally be distributed based on the needs and
0:03:43 > 0:03:47characteristics of every school in the country, supported by in
0:03:47 > 0:03:51additional £1.3 billion, meaning we will maintain funding in real terms
0:03:51 > 0:03:54for the next two years.
0:03:59 > 0:04:0222 of the 24 maintained schools in my constituency will be losing in
0:04:02 > 0:04:07real terms taking account of inflation. Many of these are schools
0:04:07 > 0:04:14with high levels of deprivation, how can the Secretary of State justify
0:04:14 > 0:04:19this?Mr Speaker of course the formula does quite rightly take
0:04:19 > 0:04:24account of deprivation in the way that she mentions, and in the Bishop
0:04:24 > 0:04:29Auckland constituency if the funding formula work implemented in full,
0:04:29 > 0:04:36based on the 2017-18 funding data, it would increase by 1.9%.In every
0:04:36 > 0:04:42single school I have visited across Bradford since becoming an MP, the
0:04:42 > 0:04:45head has raised with me major concerns about funding. Can the
0:04:45 > 0:04:50Minister confirmed despite the £1.3 billion announced by his predecessor
0:04:50 > 0:04:54last July, school funding will still have fallen in real terms by 2020
0:04:54 > 0:05:03for the first time in a generation? No, Mr Speaker. In the Bradford
0:05:03 > 0:05:06South constituency, on the same basis that I just answered to the
0:05:06 > 0:05:10honourable lady from Bishop Auckland, if formula that was
0:05:10 > 0:05:14invented in full, it would involve an increase of 1.6% of £1.3 million,
0:05:14 > 0:05:23and across the system per-pupil real terms funding is being maintained.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26The cost of advertising for teachers and the cost of supply teachers
0:05:26 > 0:05:29especially to agencies is putting strain on school funding and
0:05:29 > 0:05:32budgets. What action is the government taking to ensure more
0:05:32 > 0:05:36money is going to the front line of education and less on the
0:05:36 > 0:05:40bureaucracy and costs.My right honourable friend makes a very good
0:05:40 > 0:05:44point about one of the cost pressures schools have been facing
0:05:44 > 0:05:47that is why we are working on seeing what we can do to help on bringing
0:05:47 > 0:05:50down recruitment costs, specifically on supply teachers that she
0:05:50 > 0:05:55mentioned, developing a new framework to that act.Schools in my
0:05:55 > 0:05:57constituency work on the principle of the national funding formula
0:05:57 > 0:06:01which will see an increase in funding. I wonder if my right
0:06:01 > 0:06:04honourable friend would agree to meet with me and representatives of
0:06:04 > 0:06:07primary and secondary schools to ensure that we get this implemented
0:06:07 > 0:06:13in the right way.Mr Speaker, he is correct that the Clement Ric and of
0:06:13 > 0:06:16the national funding formula is a very important step forward and I am
0:06:16 > 0:06:20always happy to beat my noble friend.Taking into account the
0:06:20 > 0:06:23rising cost pressures on school whether temporary and agency staff
0:06:23 > 0:06:27or pressures on salaries means that every school virtually in my
0:06:27 > 0:06:32constituency is going to face real terms cuts to their funding by 2020.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Isn't that the truth of the government plasma policy or does the
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Secretary of State education thinks he knows more about school budgets
0:06:38 > 0:06:45than headteachers?Across the system over the next two years, the total
0:06:45 > 0:06:49core schools funding budget will be going up from just under £41 billion
0:06:49 > 0:06:54this year to 43 and a half billion. Of course there had been cost
0:06:54 > 0:06:57pressures on schools, I don't know that for a moment, one of the
0:06:57 > 0:07:02reasons we are taking that step that I outlined to help with those cost
0:07:02 > 0:07:07pressures. Across the system per-pupil real terms funding is
0:07:07 > 0:07:11being maintained.While we welcome the changes to the national funding
0:07:11 > 0:07:14formula and additional money there are still a huge gap in schools in
0:07:14 > 0:07:18West Sussex and the way they are funded in Greater London, in
0:07:18 > 0:07:22particular special schools are not included in the funding formula, so
0:07:22 > 0:07:25that an average 200 Playschool in West Sussex will receive something
0:07:25 > 0:07:31like £800,000 less than a school in Reading or 2 million less than a
0:07:31 > 0:07:37school in London. When his heat going to address this anomaly?It is
0:07:37 > 0:07:41not supposed to be that they have the same amount of money following
0:07:41 > 0:07:45them, it is important the formula recognises the difference in the
0:07:45 > 0:07:48composition of pupil make-ups, we were talking a moment or two about
0:07:48 > 0:07:52the privation. Of course other members of additional need that the
0:07:52 > 0:08:02two reflected.May I first started by congratulating the lady from
0:08:02 > 0:08:05North London who has won this year's global teacher prize this weekend. I
0:08:05 > 0:08:09know that the whole house will agree with her on the power of arts to
0:08:09 > 0:08:14change unpeopled's lives. Mr Speaker, in the Chancellor's springs
0:08:14 > 0:08:19statement last week, he said that school budgets are increasing
0:08:19 > 0:08:24per-pupil in real terms, and that every school will receive a cash
0:08:24 > 0:08:31increase. Does the Secretary of State agree with the Chancellor?
0:08:31 > 0:08:36First let me join with the honourable lady in her
0:08:36 > 0:08:38congratulations to Andrea Zachariah who for this outstanding achievement
0:08:38 > 0:08:44that she has made. It is a particularly striking individual
0:08:44 > 0:08:48attainment but also I think it is a reflection of the incredibly
0:08:48 > 0:08:52inspirational role that teachers everywhere player. In terms of
0:08:52 > 0:08:54funding, we have been discussing this at some length, the fact is
0:08:54 > 0:09:01that across the system the per-pupil real terms funding is being
0:09:01 > 0:09:03maintained. Of course local authorities for the next couple of
0:09:03 > 0:09:06years will play a role in allocating that money to make sure the final
0:09:06 > 0:09:13result reflects the cost...Mr Speaker, I am glad that he accepts
0:09:13 > 0:09:18that part because the UK Statistics Authority last week refused to both
0:09:18 > 0:09:22of those claims and the Secretary of State had to retract what he said at
0:09:22 > 0:09:26our last Question Time. Last week, he said that the mere repetition of
0:09:26 > 0:09:36a full set does not turn it into the truth. So will he now apologise for
0:09:36 > 0:09:39misleading the house, and make clear the truth? There is no increase and
0:09:39 > 0:09:48school budgets may face cuts of up to 1.5% per-pupil?Order, before we
0:09:48 > 0:09:53proceed further I must say to the Shadow Secretary of State, any
0:09:53 > 0:10:00accusation of misleading the house must be accompanied by inadvertent.
0:10:00 > 0:10:08Inadvertently misleading the house. Mr Speaker, it is true that cash
0:10:08 > 0:10:11funding per pupil is increasing, it is also true that real terms funding
0:10:11 > 0:10:16is increasing, but I could and should have been more precise. When
0:10:16 > 0:10:19you talk about real terms per-pupil funding, that is being maintained.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25The core schools budget over the next two years will rise to a little
0:10:25 > 0:10:33under £41 billion to 43.5.Question number three.Thank you Mr Speaker,
0:10:33 > 0:10:40since 2010 there are 1.9 million, sorry, Mr Speaker, with permission,
0:10:40 > 0:10:45I would seek to answer this question with numbers eight and 16, my
0:10:45 > 0:10:50apologies. Since 2010 there are 1.9 million more children in good or
0:10:50 > 0:10:53outstanding schools and more disadvantaged children are going on
0:10:53 > 0:10:57to university. Our plans to make further progress include £72 million
0:10:57 > 0:11:02at 12 opportunity areas and £52 million for approving early language
0:11:02 > 0:11:07and literacy.Youth and implement in my constituency has fallen by 72%
0:11:07 > 0:11:10since 2010. If we are to build on that progress, can my right
0:11:10 > 0:11:16honourable friend set out how we can support schools that are
0:11:16 > 0:11:18underperforming so that young people, wherever they live, have the
0:11:18 > 0:11:33best opportunity? And in his constituency there have been over
0:11:33 > 0:11:367000 apprenticeship starts since 2010. He is right that it is very
0:11:36 > 0:11:40important all schools are able to share in the preventive education
0:11:40 > 0:11:46outcomes and very important the support is there to do that.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I strongly welcome
0:11:50 > 0:11:55the money to support breakfast clubs. Wiltshire is not a deprived
0:11:55 > 0:12:03county but it does have some areas of deprivation, how will they be
0:12:03 > 0:12:08helped?The definition of areas of deprivation will include the
0:12:08 > 0:12:14opportunity areas I mentioned but also other areas according to the
0:12:14 > 0:12:18index methodology, and I can't say the top of my head what the
0:12:18 > 0:12:21implication is for Chippenham but I will be happy to stay in touch with
0:12:21 > 0:12:31my honourable friend.Since 2013 the national literacy trust has run a
0:12:31 > 0:12:39great campaign in Middlesbrough, will my honourable friend join me in
0:12:39 > 0:12:44congratulating the efforts of this group.Indeed, improving literacy is
0:12:44 > 0:12:48vital to improving our social mobility and our plans for a
0:12:48 > 0:12:51national centre of excellence will help with this and I'm happy to pay
0:12:51 > 0:12:56tribute to the fantastic work done by the national literacy trust in
0:12:56 > 0:13:04Middlesbrough.Three years ago I launched the Liverpool to Oxbridge
0:13:04 > 0:13:06collaboratively support students in schools in my constituency, the most
0:13:06 > 0:13:12academic students, to give them the option of applying to Oxford or
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Cambridge, can I ask the government what they are doing to support areas
0:13:15 > 0:13:19especially those with high economic need like Liverpool to aim high for
0:13:19 > 0:13:25all of their young people?This goes to the heart of the office for fair
0:13:25 > 0:13:30access and what the office for students will do but also it is
0:13:30 > 0:13:33important universities continue to redouble their efforts especially
0:13:33 > 0:13:37selective universities to make sure they are reaching out and tapping
0:13:37 > 0:13:43into the range of talents on offer throughout our country.If the
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Secretary of State is serious about improving access to top universities
0:13:45 > 0:13:51for students from the two backgrounds why is he not doing more
0:13:51 > 0:13:55to act on the findings of the report which urged the government to do
0:13:55 > 0:14:00more to provide high warranty independent careers advice to 13 and
0:14:00 > 0:14:0614 years old? -- high quality.She is like to highlight high quality
0:14:06 > 0:14:13careers advice, this goes for vocational routes and academic roots
0:14:13 > 0:14:18and that is why we are putting so much focus on it.The Secretary of
0:14:18 > 0:14:21State must understand if we are to achieve social mobility our schools
0:14:21 > 0:14:26have to be well funded and Durham county council because of funding
0:14:26 > 0:14:31cuts is closing a school, the only school in a disadvantaged village in
0:14:31 > 0:14:39my constituency. The young people there feel undervalued as will be
0:14:39 > 0:14:44community, so what can the Secretary of State do to make sure the school
0:14:44 > 0:14:49stays open and those children are given a chance in life?I totally
0:14:49 > 0:14:54acknowledge that it can be very unsettling and upsetting when a
0:14:54 > 0:14:58school closes like that and I will be happy to discuss the particular
0:14:58 > 0:15:05case but it remains the case that across the system we are holding the
0:15:05 > 0:15:12core schools budget constant in real purpose pupil terms.I share the
0:15:12 > 0:15:15welcome for the Magic breakfast and school breakfast funding, and in
0:15:15 > 0:15:18addition to the money, will he encourage partner schools to share
0:15:18 > 0:15:24best practice to tackle social mobility challenges?I pay tribute
0:15:24 > 0:15:28to my honourable friend and the work he has done over an extended period
0:15:28 > 0:15:33of time in terms of breakfast especially with his magic breakfast
0:15:33 > 0:15:36connection and I share his desire to make sure that best practice is
0:15:36 > 0:15:44shared across borders.Scottish students on the most deprived
0:15:44 > 0:15:47backgrounds are supported by a comprehensive financial package
0:15:47 > 0:15:50including free tuition and bursaries, resulting in Scotland
0:15:50 > 0:15:55having the lowest university dropout rate in the entire UK, would be
0:15:55 > 0:15:59Secretary of State gave consideration to mirroring the
0:15:59 > 0:16:03support giving to Scottish students including abolishing the
0:16:03 > 0:16:07extortionate student fees in England?The important thing to note
0:16:07 > 0:16:14is that with our University financing system there are more
0:16:14 > 0:16:17young people than ever before able to go to university and more people
0:16:17 > 0:16:20from disadvantaged backgrounds being able to go to university and
0:16:20 > 0:16:28universities are properly funded and there is no cap on ambition.Social
0:16:28 > 0:16:31mobility has improved when families have access to sure start and
0:16:31 > 0:16:36children's centres yet in a damning report the National Audit Office and
0:16:36 > 0:16:41feel that the government has cut spending on sure start by 50% in
0:16:41 > 0:16:46real terms since 2010 and we are still waiting for the long overdue
0:16:46 > 0:16:50consultation into the future of children's centres so can the
0:16:50 > 0:16:54minister tell us whether he believes these cuts are good for social
0:16:54 > 0:17:01mobility and on what date he will publish the consultation?The
0:17:01 > 0:17:05honourable lady is correct in identifying the importance of early
0:17:05 > 0:17:09years in terms of child development and social mobility and narrowing
0:17:09 > 0:17:13the gap and that is one of the reasons why we are putting so much
0:17:13 > 0:17:18effort and more money into early years and childcare including for
0:17:18 > 0:17:23example the extension of eligibility for the two-year old offer which
0:17:23 > 0:17:29last week she was voting against bizarrely.Question number four.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35Thank you. I will answer question four and 11 together, with your
0:17:35 > 0:17:42permission. We are using all sorts of adverts and social media, the
0:17:42 > 0:17:46latest phase of marketing begins at the end of January and through this
0:17:46 > 0:17:53month, and National Apprenticeship Week with hundreds of events
0:17:53 > 0:17:56throughout the country spreading the message, and there is a legal duty
0:17:56 > 0:18:00for schools to allow technical education providers which was
0:18:00 > 0:18:10introduced in January.She knows that Newcastle and a number of other
0:18:10 > 0:18:15good colleges which provide excellent apprenticeships have not
0:18:15 > 0:18:18been awarded funding under the normal levy apprenticeship scheme,
0:18:18 > 0:18:23she has worked hard to find a way to this, can I ask for an update to
0:18:23 > 0:18:26make sure that those colleges are able to continue to provide these
0:18:26 > 0:18:30apprenticeships in vital areas like construction and engineering because
0:18:30 > 0:18:36otherwise there will be a desert in those areas for apprenticeships?I
0:18:36 > 0:18:39know my honourable friend is a strong supporter of colleges in his
0:18:39 > 0:18:46area but as in any procuring some bidders were on six full but we have
0:18:46 > 0:18:50extended contracts to some providers to give employers apprentices
0:18:50 > 0:18:59stability, and the main thing is they can still provide
0:18:59 > 0:19:02apprenticeships to normal levy payers.
0:19:06 > 0:19:13In 2009, there were 280,000 apprenticeships and in 2016 there
0:19:13 > 0:19:16were 495,000, so we are moving in the right direction, what more can
0:19:16 > 0:19:21the government do to improve the status of apprenticeships in school
0:19:21 > 0:19:27bearing in mind most children come to -- most teachers come through a
0:19:27 > 0:19:39university route.Yes, my honourable friend is right, status is crucial
0:19:39 > 0:19:48to increase the value that people place on apprenticeships so having
0:19:48 > 0:19:52imply is involved in the design of the new standards right up to degree
0:19:52 > 0:19:56level and making sure there is the orthodox training and they last for
0:19:56 > 0:20:00a minimum of 12 months is about raising the status and currency of
0:20:00 > 0:20:06apprenticeship qualifications and I make no apology for making sure that
0:20:06 > 0:20:09we actually increase the quality of apprenticeships and not just the
0:20:09 > 0:20:15numbers, it is about the quality. One of the key ways of promoting
0:20:15 > 0:20:19apprenticeships is to make sure that we maintain a broad curriculum at
0:20:19 > 0:20:22our schools and this is one of the key themes at the conference last
0:20:22 > 0:20:34week. The CBI president said children were missing out on being
0:20:34 > 0:20:42able -- being made to memorise facts.We have one of the best
0:20:42 > 0:20:45curricula in the world, no doubt about it, and what is absolutely
0:20:45 > 0:20:51crucial to the success of any technical education programme, and
0:20:51 > 0:20:59that includes apprenticeships, is a solid foundation in school and from
0:20:59 > 0:21:02then people can use it as a springboard into other careers
0:21:02 > 0:21:10including their apprenticeships. Knowledge of and access to
0:21:10 > 0:21:13apprenticeships relies on a gardens in schools, what is the government
0:21:13 > 0:21:17doing to make sure that every young person has an entire to want to
0:21:17 > 0:21:23high-quality advice and guidance and it stops being a rather dubious
0:21:23 > 0:21:28offer across the patch as it is at the moment?My honourable friend is
0:21:28 > 0:21:33absolutely right about this, good careers guidance and I'm sure he has
0:21:33 > 0:21:36read the Carizza strategy we launched at the end of last year. --
0:21:36 > 0:21:44career. It has a spine running to the whole thing. The legal duty on
0:21:44 > 0:21:47schools to enable technical education providers to come in as
0:21:47 > 0:21:49part of that, the careers and enterprise company are doing
0:21:49 > 0:21:55fantastic work around the country and honourable members in this place
0:21:55 > 0:21:59have a role to play by going into schools and pointing out the
0:21:59 > 0:22:06opportunities that exist.Would my honourable friend agree that
0:22:06 > 0:22:11apprenticeships are vital to maintain and enhance our sovereign
0:22:11 > 0:22:14defence manufacturing capability and are a key driver of social mobility
0:22:14 > 0:22:20especially in areas like mine.I completely agree with my honourable
0:22:20 > 0:22:23friend, they are a wonderful opportunity and indeed an important
0:22:23 > 0:22:29part of the apprenticeships we have. Last month the schools minister
0:22:29 > 0:22:33wrote to the chief executive of the apprenticeships, a long list of
0:22:33 > 0:22:38requirements, to deliver degree apprenticeships in tentacle skills,
0:22:38 > 0:22:43the chief executive said he has told the minister they could not take on
0:22:43 > 0:22:47technical skills without adequate additional resources being
0:22:47 > 0:22:51allocated, but given the Institute is scheduled to take these as
0:22:51 > 0:22:55possibilities next month, what extra funding has the skills minister
0:22:55 > 0:23:03allocated here and now to do this question up I was withthe chief
0:23:03 > 0:23:08executive of the apprenticeship and our ago and they are increasing
0:23:08 > 0:23:13their headcount substantially to make sure they have the capacity to
0:23:13 > 0:23:18deal with the new levels coming on stream. This is a great opportunity
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and I look forward to working with the Institute of apprenticeships,
0:23:21 > 0:23:25they are quite clear and they need to tell me if they have any problems
0:23:25 > 0:23:31with resourcing and we will try to meet it.Question number five.
0:23:31 > 0:23:36Minister of State.With your permission I would answer this
0:23:36 > 0:23:43question with question 14. Can I add my congratulations to the winner of
0:23:43 > 0:23:48the global teaching prize can I have met Andrea, she is a passionate
0:23:48 > 0:23:51teacher with a dedication to her peoples and a love of teaching. We
0:23:51 > 0:23:57published a party paper setting out our reform to alternative provision
0:23:57 > 0:24:01making sure the right children are placed and they receive a higher
0:24:01 > 0:24:06quality education with better outcomes than is currently the case
0:24:06 > 0:24:13for.The minister will know that alternative provision can provide at
0:24:13 > 0:24:18best an opportunity for young people to get back on track but at its
0:24:18 > 0:24:22worst in some cases it is nothing more than childminding, and he will
0:24:22 > 0:24:28also know that from the perspective of head teachers, often the cheapest
0:24:28 > 0:24:33option because of pressure on budgets, is the one they take, so
0:24:33 > 0:24:39will he addressed that so there is a incentive for schools to send young
0:24:39 > 0:24:41people to alternative provision that is frankly on suitable and of no
0:24:41 > 0:24:47use?He is absolutely right, the GCSE outcomes for children on HP are
0:24:47 > 0:24:57significantly lower than for children outside. -- AEP. We have
0:24:57 > 0:25:03also asked Ed Timpson to conduct a review to look at which groups of
0:25:03 > 0:25:08young people are being excluded for schools especially those groups who
0:25:08 > 0:25:11are disproportionately excluded from mainstream education.I refer
0:25:11 > 0:25:17members to my register of interest, 56% of schools that responded to my
0:25:17 > 0:25:21survey told me they had been forced to cut sen de provision because of
0:25:21 > 0:25:24the school budget cuts, does the minister acknowledged that a bigger
0:25:24 > 0:25:29number does not mean more money per student and will he commit to a real
0:25:29 > 0:25:33terms per-pupil fair funding form that encourages the inclusion of sen
0:25:33 > 0:25:39de pupils in our mainstream schools? We have increased the high needs
0:25:39 > 0:25:49funding from £5 billion in 2013 to now £6 billion in 2018, that is over
0:25:49 > 0:25:51£130 million compared to the previous year, and we are spending
0:25:51 > 0:25:561.3 billion more on school funding compared with the spending review in
0:25:56 > 0:26:042015.Number seven, Mr speaker.
0:26:04 > 0:26:10I commend the work for quite consensual and the debate that she
0:26:10 > 0:26:14secured last September. I can assure her the department is committed to
0:26:14 > 0:26:17making schools as safe as we possibly can, which is why we are
0:26:17 > 0:26:20working closely with the Home Office to reinforce the important message
0:26:20 > 0:26:28it is totally unacceptable to bring knives into schools. Hiya knife
0:26:28 > 0:26:34carrying in schools across the UK is up 42% and yet in my constituency in
0:26:34 > 0:26:37Croydon,and I expect across the country at least three quarters of
0:26:37 > 0:26:43headteachers of had to cut staff, special needs supervision and now
0:26:43 > 0:26:47that this epidemic has infiltrated our schools, will he admit that
0:26:47 > 0:26:53school cuts are threatening our children's safety?You have heard
0:26:53 > 0:26:56from the Secretary of State regarding school finance, all I
0:26:56 > 0:27:00would say is that the department is working with the Home Office and of
0:27:00 > 0:27:05course other stakeholders, police, Ofsted and Health and Safety
0:27:05 > 0:27:07Executive on updating our school security guidance to make clear the
0:27:07 > 0:27:11risk of carrying knives and to provide advice on dealing with this
0:27:11 > 0:27:14really important issue. It is unacceptable to actually carry a
0:27:14 > 0:27:20knife in school.Does my honourable friend join me in welcoming the
0:27:20 > 0:27:25award from the Home Office of £765,000 from the new anti-knife
0:27:25 > 0:27:29crime community fund, some of which will be spent delivering sessions on
0:27:29 > 0:27:34knife crime awareness in schools themselves?I do welcome the Home
0:27:34 > 0:27:38Office commitment of this and I hope the Mayor of London will do the same
0:27:38 > 0:27:47with the honourable lady schools in Croydon.Youth violence is up,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50mental health issues among young people is up yet the number of
0:27:50 > 0:27:55qualified school nurses is down. The evidence shows this can be part of
0:27:55 > 0:27:57addressing the root causes of youth violence, can we have qualified
0:27:57 > 0:28:08school nurses in every school is one step to tackling this issue?The
0:28:08 > 0:28:11honourable lady knows we are making further investment to make sure
0:28:11 > 0:28:16every school is able to deal with that issue in a way that is
0:28:16 > 0:28:22appropriate.
0:28:22 > 0:28:36Today there are over 2000 open sponsored academies. This involves
0:28:36 > 0:28:39brokering a relationship between a suitable academy trust and
0:28:39 > 0:28:42maintained schools including addressing any land or contractual
0:28:42 > 0:28:46issues. They school without a confirmed response is not generally
0:28:46 > 0:28:52due to a lack of response all it is because of the time taken to address
0:28:52 > 0:28:55those issues.The Minister may know my interest in this matter stems
0:28:55 > 0:28:59from the number of years it took for his department to resolve matters at
0:28:59 > 0:29:05Sedgefield school in Lewisham where they were not able to find a sponsor
0:29:05 > 0:29:09and instead have agreed a three-year school improvement partnership
0:29:09 > 0:29:15there. If they are struggling so much to find sponsors for academies,
0:29:15 > 0:29:20why is it still a central plank of his school turnaround strategy?
0:29:20 > 0:29:25Because we are not crossed the system as a whole struggling to find
0:29:25 > 0:29:30new sponsors. We have 7000 academies now, most of which are converted
0:29:30 > 0:29:36academies, which themselves are becoming themselves the sponsor.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40This is a system that is working. Secondary sponsored academies made
0:29:40 > 0:29:44the strongest improvement in 2016 despite facing the biggest
0:29:44 > 0:29:49challenges competitor in the 15 the average attainment at school for
0:29:49 > 0:29:54sponsored academies improved by almost three attainment points
0:29:54 > 0:29:57compare to 1.34 maintained schools. The academies programme is working
0:29:57 > 0:30:02and is raising standards right across the system.Number 12, Mr
0:30:02 > 0:30:11Speaker.It is the responsibility of parents to assure themselves of the
0:30:11 > 0:30:14responsibility of any private Chuter by checking references and asking to
0:30:14 > 0:30:19see a copy of any DBS certificate. That is a serious criminal offence
0:30:19 > 0:30:27to seek to work with children after having been barred from doing so.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Currently one in four children receive Jewish and outside the
0:30:29 > 0:30:33school and private Chuter Ishant, self employed duties do not have to
0:30:33 > 0:30:38criminal record checks. Putting these children are at serious risk.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42Therefore what is the minister doing about this and will he meet with me
0:30:42 > 0:30:45to discuss a serious case in my constituency and why the law must
0:30:45 > 0:30:51change?I will certainly meet with the honourable lady to discuss the
0:30:51 > 0:31:00case, which she has e-mailed to us earlier today, very happy to do so.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05Mr 15 Mr Speaker.Schools can currently teach about LGBT issues
0:31:05 > 0:31:10and must comply with the equality act. We established a £3 billion
0:31:10 > 0:31:13programme on homophobic, by phobic and trans phobic bullying. We also
0:31:13 > 0:31:20engaging with stakeholders to include relationships and sex
0:31:20 > 0:31:23education and the response to the call of evidence will be published
0:31:23 > 0:31:33shortly.Following media reports of one school in London censoring, it
0:31:33 > 0:31:37is clear the need to be more work in this area. Will the Minister agree
0:31:37 > 0:31:41to look at the recommendations for the time for inclusive education
0:31:41 > 0:31:44campaign in Scotland and ensure all young people include an education
0:31:44 > 0:31:52that is fully LGBT inclusive?Very happy to look at that report, we are
0:31:52 > 0:31:55consulting the content of the RSC, we will be publishing new content
0:31:55 > 0:32:00and guidelines and we have also judges to regulations to require
0:32:00 > 0:32:05schools to teach fundamental British values in our schools.Number 17, Mr
0:32:05 > 0:32:15Speaker.Mr Speaker, our reforms will increase the chances of course
0:32:15 > 0:32:18completion, the introduction of a transparency duty, access and
0:32:18 > 0:32:22British patient plans and the income framework will hold universities to
0:32:22 > 0:32:25account and help students make informed choices about where to
0:32:25 > 0:32:31study and get the best value for money.The higher education
0:32:31 > 0:32:35statistics authority audit shows that 6.2% of first-time students in
0:32:35 > 0:32:39Scotland dropped out before their second year up being not only the
0:32:39 > 0:32:44joint lowest figure on record but also the lowest in the UK. With
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Scotland leading the way, when will the Minister becoming north to
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Scotland for some inspiration to think again on their own failings on
0:32:50 > 0:32:56student retention?Scotland is of course a beautiful country, and our
0:32:56 > 0:33:00reforms here have actually lead to more disadvantaged people going to
0:33:00 > 0:33:03university than ever before. I do agree with the honourable member
0:33:03 > 0:33:07that we want access to not just be defined as getting into university,
0:33:07 > 0:33:12but we want people to be successful at University and go on to achieve
0:33:12 > 0:33:16their aspirations. That is why as part of our reforms we are
0:33:16 > 0:33:19reintroducing access and the dissipation agreements that the new
0:33:19 > 0:33:23regulator for the office to students would be overseeing to make sure
0:33:23 > 0:33:27that universities are held to account for the success of
0:33:27 > 0:33:32disadvantaged students at university.Could the minister
0:33:32 > 0:33:35explain to parents in my constituency who are not married
0:33:35 > 0:33:39under the age of 25 but cohabit why that household is not eligible for
0:33:39 > 0:33:43an adult dependent grant but if they were a married couple they would
0:33:43 > 0:33:50both Richard Markit sounds like the honourable member is referring to a
0:33:50 > 0:33:54very specific issue, I would be happy to take it up with her
0:33:54 > 0:34:01afterwards.The Minister could always put a copy of his reply in
0:34:01 > 0:34:11the library.Does the speaker except that -- does the
0:34:12 > 0:34:14they need to have confidence about the benefits and provisions that
0:34:14 > 0:34:19will come with that and to that end what discussions is he having with
0:34:19 > 0:34:22the university colleges union and Universities UK about resolving the
0:34:22 > 0:34:28pensions dispute?The honourable member will be aware there was an
0:34:28 > 0:34:30agreement reached between the Universities UK and universities
0:34:30 > 0:34:34colleges union last week. It was broken by the independent arbitrator
0:34:34 > 0:34:40ACAS. I am disappointed that agreement was rejected the next day,
0:34:40 > 0:34:44and I am urging both parties to get together to talk, because this is in
0:34:44 > 0:34:47the interests of students, especially at this vital time in
0:34:47 > 0:34:54their academic studies. Also what we are looking at is the office for
0:34:54 > 0:34:56students, a new regulator that has wide-ranging powers to make sure
0:34:56 > 0:35:01that universities to work to be clear what they are going to deliver
0:35:01 > 0:35:05the students, and there is no mandate for the strikes -- strikes
0:35:05 > 0:35:15to disrupt exams.As the honourable gentleman is where we are
0:35:15 > 0:35:19undertaking a post-18 funding and education review. I am sure he
0:35:19 > 0:35:23watched the Prime Minister announced that up in Derby a view weeks ago.
0:35:23 > 0:35:28Alongside this we are also looking at the efficiency and resilience of
0:35:28 > 0:35:32the FEA sector. Woody to make sure existing and forecast funding and
0:35:32 > 0:35:34regulatory structures meet the cost of high-quality first-class
0:35:34 > 0:35:43provision. But the front bench have made a great play in these sessions
0:35:43 > 0:35:46about the importance of social mobility and there is no greater
0:35:46 > 0:35:50engine for that in communities like Stoke-on-Trent than properly funded
0:35:50 > 0:35:53and well resourced further education, Stoke-on-Trent sixth form
0:35:53 > 0:35:57College has had a freeze on its cash terms over the last few years but
0:35:57 > 0:36:01with rising costs it is a real terms cost so what is it that this front
0:36:01 > 0:36:07bench of the government have against the colleges in my constituency?Mr
0:36:07 > 0:36:11Speaker, I would point out to the honourable gentleman that we have
0:36:11 > 0:36:174000 for every 16 to 19-year-old, an additional £600 for every pupil
0:36:17 > 0:36:25studying maths above the baseline, £500 million into T-Levels,
0:36:25 > 0:36:30preparation into T-Levels and the work we have done with FEA colleges,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Mr Speaker, the honourable gentleman is shaking his head, it is true,
0:36:33 > 0:36:41actually.I don't think the Minister should take it personally,
0:36:41 > 0:36:45headshaking in the House of Commons is not a novel phenomenon, it has
0:36:45 > 0:36:50been going on for some centuries I believe.Thank you Mr Speaker, I am
0:36:50 > 0:36:54sure in her review of FC funding she won at the investment being made in
0:36:54 > 0:36:58South Devon College in Paignton in driving technical education but
0:36:58 > 0:37:03would she agree with me that a key part of the review will be how
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Institute of technology are taken forward, in particular another one
0:37:06 > 0:37:11at South Devon College?He is right that Institute of technology will be
0:37:11 > 0:37:16an important part of this mix. I know that headshaking is common in
0:37:16 > 0:37:22this chamber, but nonetheless, it should not detract us from the
0:37:22 > 0:37:26facts, and we are putting in substantial amounts of money. We are
0:37:26 > 0:37:33doing a review of post-18 education but F E is an important driver of
0:37:33 > 0:37:42social mobility.Last week, Hull College group announced the loss of
0:37:42 > 0:37:48231 full-time equivalent jobs. They have told me that government changes
0:37:48 > 0:37:53to funding for J ISC, and IT services company that currently
0:37:53 > 0:37:58provide free IT support for colleges will set them back for another
0:37:58 > 0:38:05£100,000, possibly resulting in even more job losses. Will the Minister
0:38:05 > 0:38:08please reverse this decision or at least provide some transitional
0:38:08 > 0:38:15funding so that F E colleges are not hit so hard?The changes she refers
0:38:15 > 0:38:19to are important, it is about fairness and equity. As I pointed
0:38:19 > 0:38:24out there is a lot of money going into F E colleges at the moment. But
0:38:24 > 0:38:31we are looking at the efficiency and resilience of the FEA sector is to
0:38:31 > 0:38:36make sure that the forecast funding instructions meet the cost of
0:38:36 > 0:38:45high-quality first-class provision. Question 19.We have protected the
0:38:45 > 0:38:51base rate of funding for 1619 -year-olds. Until 2020 and we will
0:38:51 > 0:38:57invest £500 million extra per year in T-Levels. I have asked my
0:38:57 > 0:39:00officials to assess how far the current funding system meets the
0:39:00 > 0:39:06cost of provision in the further education sector and will update the
0:39:06 > 0:39:12house shortly.Warrington and they'll romp college last week
0:39:12 > 0:39:17announced it intends to close the North wish campus in my constituency
0:39:17 > 0:39:22with 300 students displaced. It cited severe financial pressures and
0:39:22 > 0:39:27the government focused area -based review. Will the Secretary of State
0:39:27 > 0:39:30or the Minister agreed to meet with me, the staff and some of the
0:39:30 > 0:39:35students affected and hopefully reverse this decision?I am very
0:39:35 > 0:39:39happy to meet with the honourable gentleman, I should point out
0:39:39 > 0:39:42because I think not everybody understands that colleges are
0:39:42 > 0:39:49independent bodies. I understand Warrington and they'll recently took
0:39:49 > 0:39:52a view that the Hertford campus was unviable and that provisions should
0:39:52 > 0:39:55be transferred to create a more efficient offer from other sites
0:39:55 > 0:40:01with lender supported travel. This issue arises from difficulties in
0:40:01 > 0:40:09recruiting learners, not budget cuts.A college in Rochdale achieved
0:40:09 > 0:40:12some remarkable results but in a town like Rochdale, which is more
0:40:12 > 0:40:18dependent on further education and less dependent on the university
0:40:18 > 0:40:22system, will the government not recognise this differential in
0:40:22 > 0:40:24funding between further education holds back young people who are the
0:40:24 > 0:40:29most deprived, and who need that skills training more than anybody
0:40:29 > 0:40:36else?One of the reasons we are undertaking a post-18 review of
0:40:36 > 0:40:40education and funding is to make sure that all people, doesn't matter
0:40:40 > 0:40:45where you come from or what part of the country you live in, you should
0:40:45 > 0:40:49be able to have access to high-quality education, be that in
0:40:49 > 0:41:08FC or H E.Question one.Thank you Mr Speaker.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12Andrea won the global teacher prize, beating many entries from other
0:41:12 > 0:41:16countries. This government is committed to supporting all teachers
0:41:16 > 0:41:23to make sure children can have a world-class education, and we are
0:41:23 > 0:41:28focusing on a flexible working and entry routes into teaching and
0:41:28 > 0:41:32Friday we launched a review to look at what makes the difference to
0:41:32 > 0:41:36educational outcomes to make sure more children can have a better
0:41:36 > 0:41:40start in life and we are also introducing an investment of £26
0:41:40 > 0:41:45million to boost breakfast clubs in some of the most disadvantaged
0:41:45 > 0:41:54areas, complementing our development of eligibility.In light of the
0:41:54 > 0:41:57racist racist incident in one of our schools in Bath does the minister
0:41:57 > 0:42:02believe the safeguarding procedures in our schools are strong enough and
0:42:02 > 0:42:10that the Ofsted inspection regime is adequate around safeguarding?I was
0:42:10 > 0:42:13truly shocked to read of the incident that the the honourable
0:42:13 > 0:42:17lady refers to and this must of course have no place in our schools
0:42:17 > 0:42:21and in our country, schools need to have a policy setting out measures
0:42:21 > 0:42:26to encourage good behaviour including the prevention of
0:42:26 > 0:42:31bullying. An inspector must be able to visit a school without notice
0:42:31 > 0:42:35where there are concerns.Shrewsbury college has an outstanding
0:42:35 > 0:42:39reputation for outstanding apprenticeship programmes but it was
0:42:39 > 0:42:48not a success in the latest student levy process, and there are huge
0:42:48 > 0:42:54geographical areas that this college caters for and the ministers and
0:42:54 > 0:43:01officials need to think again.This is not a situation that we wanted to
0:43:01 > 0:43:06be in and we are obliged to do these procurement exercises and there were
0:43:06 > 0:43:131046 bids and over £4 billion, 700 of those bids were successful and
0:43:13 > 0:43:18got a total of 490, and we have put in transitional arrangements for
0:43:18 > 0:43:24providers that were not successful, giving stability to implies and
0:43:24 > 0:43:28apprenticeships, and as I pointed out, those providers can still
0:43:28 > 0:43:32access apprenticeship funding by delivering training directly to levy
0:43:32 > 0:43:36payers through subcontracting and two employees receiving transfers
0:43:36 > 0:43:45from April.The pensions dispute ground universities to a halt last
0:43:45 > 0:43:49week and the Secretary of State will be aware that there is a proposal on
0:43:49 > 0:43:52the table to underwrite the universities superannuation scheme
0:43:52 > 0:43:58and although this matter is reserved, the Scottish Government
0:43:58 > 0:44:04have said they will give consideration to the proposals. With
0:44:04 > 0:44:11talk of further disruption, will he commit to doing the same?As I
0:44:11 > 0:44:15referred to you in my previous answer the remit that was on the
0:44:15 > 0:44:19table was brokered by ACAS between both parties and in terms of the
0:44:19 > 0:44:26dispute is a dispute between the universities which are autonomous
0:44:26 > 0:44:29organisations and the lecturers and the pensions scheme is a private
0:44:29 > 0:44:33pension scheme and it is one of the largest schemes with nearly 400,000
0:44:33 > 0:44:39members and over 61 billion in assets. The cost to the taxpayer of
0:44:39 > 0:44:43underwriting such a scheme could be significant and any further
0:44:43 > 0:44:46involvement from the government in supporting this would need to be
0:44:46 > 0:44:53considered very very carefully.I know the minister shares my concerns
0:44:53 > 0:44:59about the horrific sexual exploitation of young girls in
0:44:59 > 0:45:02Telford, is the minister aware of any national inquiry that will
0:45:02 > 0:45:08specifically investigate all aspects of current and historic cases of
0:45:08 > 0:45:15child exploitation in Telford?I do indeed share her concerns and this
0:45:15 > 0:45:21has been a terrible case and not the first of its kind, and I will be
0:45:21 > 0:45:25writing to the chair of the new national child safeguarding review
0:45:25 > 0:45:29panel to look at places where these appalling crimes have happened, like
0:45:29 > 0:45:34Rotherham and Oxfordshire and Telford, and a port on where lessons
0:45:34 > 0:45:37have been learned and practices approved across the system -- and
0:45:37 > 0:45:44report.Last week the Secretary of State is centred the childcare
0:45:44 > 0:45:50voucher scheme but as I tried last week the Secretary of State has
0:45:50 > 0:45:56given no clarity as to what will happen next so will he come back to
0:45:56 > 0:46:02the house with an all statement and give a meaningful vote before the
0:46:02 > 0:46:14scheme now ends?The move to this is a HMRC Treasury area rather than the
0:46:14 > 0:46:17Department for Education but we did make clear in the debate there was
0:46:17 > 0:46:21the extra time, the six months in order to look at transitional
0:46:21 > 0:46:22considerations.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30Would the minister explained the government's approach to funding in
0:46:30 > 0:46:34Hertfordshire and other local areas as there is a concern in many areas
0:46:34 > 0:46:39that funding to children with special needs is not being
0:46:39 > 0:46:46ring-fenced at local level?We have increased high needs funding this
0:46:46 > 0:46:50year, local authorities are responsible for their high needs
0:46:50 > 0:46:54budget, but I have not heard concerns about this funding not
0:46:54 > 0:46:58being used to support special education needs but of course happy
0:46:58 > 0:47:04to meet with my honourable friend and discuss this further.The
0:47:04 > 0:47:09honourable gentleman has just been elevated to membership of the Privy
0:47:09 > 0:47:13Council and he must be deeply grateful.I don't think the
0:47:13 > 0:47:17minister's answer on the dispute with universities regarding pensions
0:47:17 > 0:47:22is good enough. He can't sit on the sidelines and he should be doing
0:47:22 > 0:47:27something to resolve the situation rather than going up and down and
0:47:27 > 0:47:35giving lectures at the African Conservative Party.The government
0:47:35 > 0:47:39has not been sitting on the sidelines and we have made sure that
0:47:39 > 0:47:43we have been in touch with all the interested parties concerned and our
0:47:43 > 0:47:49prime concern is the students whose education is at stake but it is up
0:47:49 > 0:47:54to the universities as employers to negotiate with the lecturers as the
0:47:54 > 0:47:58employees and there is a deal on the table that has been brokered by ACAS
0:47:58 > 0:48:03and at the heart of the dispute is the valuation of the pension scheme
0:48:03 > 0:48:06and part of that deal was an independent evaluation of the
0:48:06 > 0:48:10pension scheme in the months ahead which is why I'm disappointed that
0:48:10 > 0:48:14that deal was turned down the next day and I urge parties to get
0:48:14 > 0:48:20together and keep negotiating to resolve this.May I welcome the news
0:48:20 > 0:48:22that up to £80 million will be invested in helping small businesses
0:48:22 > 0:48:27recruit apprentices and ask my honourable friend how businesses
0:48:27 > 0:48:35will be able to apply for this funding.It is very good news as my
0:48:35 > 0:48:38honourable friend will be aware, the government will pay 90% of training
0:48:38 > 0:48:43costs for small businesses and we will be announcing more details on
0:48:43 > 0:48:50how the money will be distributed in due course.Headteachers across
0:48:50 > 0:48:53Stoke-on-Trent have told all three of the MPs that they have never felt
0:48:53 > 0:48:59quite the pinch like they do now, and the purchasing of new equipment
0:48:59 > 0:49:04is being put on hold, but do listen to the Secretary of State we are led
0:49:04 > 0:49:07to believe that money is flowing in and schools have never had it so
0:49:07 > 0:49:12good, but given these statements can't be reconciled, who does he
0:49:12 > 0:49:18believe is inadvertently misleading members of this house?On that point
0:49:18 > 0:49:24there is no actual or inadvertent misleading of the house and it is a
0:49:24 > 0:49:31fact that across the system the core schools funding budget goes up in a
0:49:31 > 0:49:35couple of years' time and beyond that there is the national funding
0:49:35 > 0:49:37formula which seeks to correct some of the long-standing imbalances
0:49:37 > 0:49:42there have been in the system and I was pleased recently to visit Stoke
0:49:42 > 0:49:46and to meet some of the outstanding headteachers operating in his area
0:49:46 > 0:49:50and I know that funding has been tight for schools and there have
0:49:50 > 0:49:53been cost pressures in the last couple of years and we stand behind
0:49:53 > 0:49:59them to see what we can do to support them.I believe the
0:49:59 > 0:50:01announcement from Cambridge University that they will offer
0:50:01 > 0:50:07apprenticeships but is a quality stamp of approval on this route,
0:50:07 > 0:50:10does my honourable friend agreed that is important for all children
0:50:10 > 0:50:15around the country that they are encouraged to imply and do they also
0:50:15 > 0:50:20agree that the opening doors programme that brings children to
0:50:20 > 0:50:27local business are key to raising aspirations? -- to apply.I would
0:50:27 > 0:50:31congratulate what is going on in her local area and of course a degree
0:50:31 > 0:50:36apprenticeship is a wonderful way to earn while you learn, get a degree
0:50:36 > 0:50:41and come out at the end of it with several years of work experience and
0:50:41 > 0:50:44probably be way ahead of your contemporaries who went into a
0:50:44 > 0:50:56graduate degree.I had the privilege of meeting the father of the King
0:50:56 > 0:51:03Fellowship, his father's ambition was to get a defibrillator in every
0:51:03 > 0:51:09school because they have done work which would benefit many people, is
0:51:09 > 0:51:13this something the government would look to supporting, a defibrillator
0:51:13 > 0:51:18in every school?We have funded a considerable number of these in
0:51:18 > 0:51:22schools and we are working with the heart foundation as well to provide
0:51:22 > 0:51:28facilities for schools to teach first aid and life-saving skills in
0:51:28 > 0:51:34schools for the pay risesbut teachers would be welcome in my area
0:51:34 > 0:51:37but there is a concern they will have to be met by the increase in
0:51:37 > 0:51:41funding that was delivered to schools, can I asked the minister if
0:51:41 > 0:51:46there are plans to find budget outside of the existing school
0:51:46 > 0:51:53funding formed of those pay rises? The teachers pay review body is
0:51:53 > 0:51:56deliberating at the moment and we have already given our evidence as
0:51:56 > 0:52:03have the other console teas, but since the spending review, an
0:52:03 > 0:52:14additional 1.3 billion has been found for this.
0:52:20 > 0:52:26We aim that every child will have a plan in time and those who weren't
0:52:26 > 0:52:34are assured that their support will be maintained but we are on most
0:52:34 > 0:52:38levels on target to deliver these plans.Over the weekend I raised the
0:52:38 > 0:52:42issue of the passport thing of childcare payments by
0:52:42 > 0:52:46Northamptonshire County Council to local providers and I'm very pleased
0:52:46 > 0:52:50that the solution has been found and I'm grateful to ministers for their
0:52:50 > 0:52:53support and their interest but will they join me in thanking the
0:52:53 > 0:52:57children's services staff at Northamptonshire County Council for
0:52:57 > 0:53:04solving this so rapidly?I will certainly join him and I would like
0:53:04 > 0:53:09to meet with him to look at what other support we can provide and to
0:53:09 > 0:53:12commend the director of children's services at Northampton are doing an
0:53:12 > 0:53:23excellent job in very difficult circumstances.Based on government
0:53:23 > 0:53:34statistics 63 schools in my borough will lose funding per pupil of
0:53:34 > 0:53:38around 300,000 pounds between 2015 and 2020, what happened to the
0:53:38 > 0:53:44promise by the Prime Minister to maintain pupil funding?No school in
0:53:44 > 0:53:48the country will lose funding under the new formula and the minimum they
0:53:48 > 0:53:54receive will be an extra increase, those schools which have been
0:53:54 > 0:53:58receiving more according to the national funding formula, so no
0:53:58 > 0:54:04school will lose funding, but there have been cost pressures in recent
0:54:04 > 0:54:07years but we are helping schools deal with the cost pressures with
0:54:07 > 0:54:12school efficiency advisers and schemes which can enable schools to
0:54:12 > 0:54:17marshal their resources as efficiently as possible.Recent
0:54:17 > 0:54:21figures from Department show 4350 children were adopted in England and
0:54:21 > 0:54:26that is a near 20% decline from the peak in 2015, why are adoptions in
0:54:26 > 0:54:34decline?The government is working with the sector through the adoption
0:54:34 > 0:54:38leadership board to address the issue of numbers to make sure their
0:54:38 > 0:54:45remains are enough adopters approved for children who are waiting.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49Parents whose children use the children's centre in Cambridge are
0:54:49 > 0:54:52seeing hours at the nursery cat and the baby room closed and parents
0:54:52 > 0:54:58being encouraged to ask their employers to amend their working
0:54:58 > 0:55:06hours to cope with the reduced hours.The experience around the
0:55:06 > 0:55:12country does not bear the honourable gentleman's view, and the opposite
0:55:12 > 0:55:15is happening where parents are getting the places, especially on
0:55:15 > 0:55:20the 30 hours a week for three and four-year-olds which is almost at
0:55:20 > 0:55:27300,000 which we announced last week.Last week I had the honour of
0:55:27 > 0:55:34chairing in Westminster the second annual schools debating competition
0:55:34 > 0:55:38and the standard was absolutely excellent and I want to pay tribute
0:55:38 > 0:55:41to carry on Trowbridge and Sam Phillips for their work organising
0:55:41 > 0:55:46this, but what is the department doing to encourage public speaking
0:55:46 > 0:55:52and debate within the country?May I join him in commending his
0:55:52 > 0:55:54constituents who organised this great event and it is true that
0:55:54 > 0:55:59public speaking and debating is an important thing for developing the
0:55:59 > 0:56:03rounded young person, the character development we all want, and members
0:56:03 > 0:56:08of Parliament can also play an important role and many accident in
0:56:08 > 0:56:13their own areas run their own systems.I am looking forward to
0:56:13 > 0:56:19visiting the honourable gentleman in his constituency very soon.John
0:56:19 > 0:56:26Cryer.
0:56:26 > 0:56:31Did the abolition of the education maintenance allowance hinder or
0:56:31 > 0:56:34contribute to social mobility?With the alternative funding that was put
0:56:34 > 0:56:38in place it was possible of course for sixth form colleges to do other
0:56:38 > 0:56:41things, to make sure that they were attracting the full range of
0:56:41 > 0:56:45students, and we are seeing more disadvantaged youngsters going onto
0:56:45 > 0:56:54university than ever before.Mr Speaker last week I opened the
0:56:54 > 0:56:59extension to the children centre and the week before I was hosted a
0:56:59 > 0:57:01apprenticeship, both sectors are telling me they are desperately
0:57:01 > 0:57:04short of funding due to cuts. What assessment is the government making
0:57:04 > 0:57:10now of the outcome received by children of the reduction in funding
0:57:10 > 0:57:16currently happening?Local authorities are responsible for how
0:57:16 > 0:57:21they deliver support for families and through children centres as well
0:57:21 > 0:57:24as other support and many of them are focusing on getting support
0:57:24 > 0:57:31direct to the family, rather than investing in bricks and mortar.
0:57:31 > 0:57:36Pupil premium is an important source of funding to level the playing
0:57:36 > 0:57:39field and improve social mobility. I have asked and above questions on
0:57:39 > 0:57:42these to make sure that all those eligible to receive it and about
0:57:42 > 0:57:46improving the scope of it. Does the minister now agree with me that it
0:57:46 > 0:57:52is time we have a review of pupil premium?Mr Speaker my honourable
0:57:52 > 0:57:55friend is entirely correct that the introduction of the pupil premium
0:57:55 > 0:57:58was a really important structural change in the way we do these things
0:57:58 > 0:58:02and making sure the additional resource in followers those pupils
0:58:02 > 0:58:06who need it, in order to be able to narrow the gap. I think it is also
0:58:06 > 0:58:11right we need to keep these things periodically under review as she
0:58:11 > 0:58:15suggests.The honourable lady is belatedly bobbing but I am not
0:58:15 > 0:58:21psychic to it helps to bobble along as you want to be called.Can the
0:58:21 > 0:58:25Minister tell me what plans the government has Tizzard for the 1.4
0:58:25 > 0:58:28million charge and young people affected by the decision to
0:58:28 > 0:58:31discontinue the specialist contract the speech, language and
0:58:31 > 0:58:40communication needs?We have actually in negotiations at the
0:58:40 > 0:58:46moment with TCT. And we are looking at a whole workforce at training to
0:58:46 > 0:58:52make sure we deliver better quality outcomes for children with speech
0:58:52 > 0:59:00and other disabilities.I welcome the news of the £26 million
0:59:00 > 0:59:03investment in breakfast clubs, can my right honourable friend confirm
0:59:03 > 0:59:09how the most disadvantaged children benefit of these, particularly in
0:59:09 > 0:59:13coastal communities?That is why we are using the methodology we will be
0:59:13 > 0:59:16to make sure this investment go specifically to the most
0:59:16 > 0:59:20disadvantaged areas where it can make the most difference using the
0:59:20 > 0:59:26Idoki methodology I mentioned earlier.Can a minister say when he
0:59:26 > 0:59:31intends to announce the date for issuing the criteria for the pilots
0:59:31 > 0:59:36for the holiday hunger pilots that were announced just a few weeks ago,
0:59:36 > 0:59:45because Hull is chomping at the bit to that application?We have done
0:59:45 > 0:59:51some excellent work on this and an announcement is imminent.Mr
0:59:51 > 0:59:55Speaker, Michelle Gay Osborne had teacher was in tears when she told
0:59:55 > 0:59:59just how tough it is to be one of the 361 schools in Birmingham
0:59:59 > 1:00:02suffering real term cuts when you're trying to give the best possible
1:00:02 > 1:00:06start in life to kids and one of the poorest and most deprived
1:00:06 > 1:00:10constituencies in Britain. The headteachers have asked to meet with
1:00:10 > 1:00:13the Secretary of State personally so that they can bring home to him just
1:00:13 > 1:00:18how tough it is becoming. Will the Secretary of State be generous and
1:00:18 > 1:00:26agreed to meet with them?As I said earlier, across the system, real
1:00:26 > 1:00:30terms per pupil funding in the core schools budget is being maintained
1:00:30 > 1:00:34that there are two things overlaid on that, first is the application of
1:00:34 > 1:00:37the National funding formula to correct historic imbalances and of
1:00:37 > 1:00:42course local authorities play a part in reflecting local circumstances. I
1:00:42 > 1:00:46acknowledge that with the cost pressures there have been, things
1:00:46 > 1:00:50have been tight in school budgets and I will be happy, I will be happy
1:00:50 > 1:00:55to meet with him and his constituents.Order.