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Written question asked by Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It was answered by Georgia Gould (Labour) on Monday, 19 October 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Children's Play: Finance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits of increasing funding for outdoor play and learning opportunities in schools in Surrey Heath constituency.

Answer

Each year, schools receive core funding from the department to cover their expenditures. The funding schools receive is not ringfenced for any specific form of expenditure, and it is for each school to determine how this money will be best used to support their individual circumstances. That includes expenditures on outdoor play and learning opportunities.

Through the schools block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Surrey local authority, which allocates funding for Surrey Heath, is receiving £6,361 per pupil on average in the 2026/27 financial year (including premises funding but excluding growth funding). That is a 2.5% increase in funding per pupil compared to the 2025/26 financial year.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
30698
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Children's play Finance Schools Surrey Heath
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk