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Written question asked by John Hayes (Conservative) on Monday, 22 January 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 January 2024. It was answered by Damian Hinds (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 January 2024 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Schools: Translation Services

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the cost to the public purse was for providing language translators in schools in each year since 2013.

Answer

School funding is distributed by the department fairly, based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. It is then for school heads and governors to decide how this money is spent, in line with their school’s context.

The department does not hold the cost and spending for translating school materials into non-English languages or providing language translators in schools. Such professional services are procured by individual schools and local authorities. Local authorities can ‘de-delegate’ funding from maintained schools in their area to meet the costs to improve the performance of underperforming pupils from ethnic minority groups and meeting the specific needs of bilingual pupils, and local authorities submit data on this spending as part of their annual returns to the department. ‘De-delegated’ funding is spent centrally by local authorities to meet costs faced by maintained schools in their area.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
10705
Session
2023-24
Related items
Schools: Translation Services
Wednesday, 21 February 2024
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Costs Languages Schools Translation services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk