1-17 of 17 results for house:"House of Lords"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.395 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.004 seconds
- Search query
- house:"House of Lords"
- We searched for
- legislature_ses:25277
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
Member
Primary member
Walmsley, Baroness (17)
More
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Parents (17)
Publisher
My Lords, in some disadvantaged areas parents are finding it difficult to access 15 hours of good quality childcare. Can the Minister guarantee that all parents, in all areas, will receive 30 hours of free, good quality childcare, to enable them to go to work confident that their children will be very well looked after?
My Lords, in some disadvantaged areas parents are finding it difficult to access 15 hours of good quality childcare. Can the Minister guarantee that all parents, in all areas, will receive 30 hours of free, good quality childcare, to enable them to go to work confident that their children will be very well looked after?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 October 2015
It is clear that when you put up people’s rights, the provision has to catch up. It has been doing so, but there is some way further to go and we will be working on that.
Subjects
Employment; Parents
Date
27 October 2015
Reference
765 c1092
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Lords debate on motion to take note of the importance of early years education. Agreed to on question.
Lords debate on motion to take note of the importance of early years education. Agreed to on question.
Lead member
Baroness Walmsley
Answering member
Lord Hill of Oareford
Department
Department for Education
Type
Debates
Subjects
Childcare; Curriculum; Disadvantaged; Childminding; Child rearing; Health services; Health visitors; Parents; Pre-school education; Training; Sanitation; Literacy; Children's centres; Early Years Foundation Stage Review; Early Intervention Foundation; Early Years Qualification Review
Date
8 November 2012
Reference
740 cc1139-1172
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Lords debate on motion to call attention to the cost-effectiveness, and impact on quality of life, of early intervention in the first few years of a child's life. Motion withdrawn.
Lords debate on motion to call attention to the cost-effectiveness, and impact on quality of life, of early intervention in the first few years of a child's life. Motion withdrawn.
Lead member
Baroness Walmsley
Answering member
Lord Hill of Oareford
Department
Department for Education
Type
Debates
Subjects
Children; Disadvantaged; Autism; Child rearing; Finance; Education; Health visitors; Grandparents; Protection; Parents; Pre-school education; Poverty; Special educational needs; Social services; Children's centres; Speech and language disorders; Family nurse partnership programme; Early Years Foundation Stage Review; Child Protection Review; Poverty and Life Chances Review; Early Intervention Review; Pupil premium
Date
17 March 2011
Reference
726 c393-432
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, how satisfied is the Minister with the rigour of the methodology proposed in the Allen review for assessing the effectiveness of early intervention initiatives? He may well be aware that a number of experts have considerable reservations about that methodology. Will he look into it?
My Lords, how satisfied is the Minister with the rigour of the methodology proposed in the Allen review for assessing the effectiveness of early intervention initiatives? He may well be aware that a number of experts have considerable reservations about that methodology. Will he look into it?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
14 February 2011
I am aware of the recommendations in Graham Allen’s report and the approach that he advocates of concentrating on the 19, as he would judge it, most approved standards. However, his recommendation is based on an American methodology which is different from the one commonly used in this country, and that is one issue that the Government will need to reflect on in framing their response to the Allen review.
Subjects
Children; Disadvantaged; Child rearing; Parents; Early Intervention Review
Date
14 February 2011
Reference
725 c503
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am sure we all welcome what the Government have done to help and support parents, but if I were to tell the Minister that one large London borough had only one parent support class on one occasion last year, would she consider that to be enough?
My Lords, I am sure we all welcome what the Government have done to help and support parents, but if I were to tell the Minister that one large London borough had only one parent support class on one occasion last year, would she consider that to be enough?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 October 2009
Of course I would not consider that to be enough, my Lords. I am particularly concerned that we should ensure a far greater take-up of parenting support classes around the country. This Government are considering new ways of targeting family support so that we can get it to the places where parents and families need it most.
Subjects
Families; Parents; Married people
Date
21 October 2009
Reference
713 c703
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Lords question for short debate on what is their assessment of the effectiveness of their new arrangements for child protection.
Lords question for short debate on what is their assessment of the effectiveness of their new arrangements for child protection.
Lead member
Baroness Walmsley
Answering member
Lord Adonis
Department
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Questions for short debate
Legislation
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Subjects
Children; Databases; Criminal records; Corporal punishment; Inspections; Human trafficking; Protection; Parents; Vetting; Schools; Young offenders; Security; Social services; Criminal Records Bureau; Restraint techniques; Ofsted
Date
24 October 2007
Reference
695 c1117-30
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree that there is a great deal of good practice in the report but that there are still some schools that really struggle to engage parents? What will the Government do to disseminate this best practice to those schools that are crying out for good advice? Is there, for example, some sort of twinning programme in place, or some other initiative? This is relevant particularly at this time of year, when we have the transition of shiny-faced primary school children moving up to secondary school in their brand new uniforms. What are the Government doing to disseminate best practice in forging good relationships with parents right from the start, so that can be a very productive partnership for the children’s learning?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree that there is a great deal of good practice in the report but that there are still some schools that really struggle to engage parents? What will the Government do to disseminate this best practice to those schools that are crying out for good advice? Is there, for example, some sort of twinning programme in place, or some other initiative? This is relevant particularly at this time of year, when we have the transition of shiny-faced primary school children moving up to secondary school in their brand new uniforms. What are the Government doing to disseminate best practice in forging good relationships with parents right from the start, so that can be a very productive partnership for the children’s learning?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 July 2007
My Lords, the Ofsted report itself concludes: "““Schools often said during the survey that they wanted more information about how other schools involved parents and carers successfully and how to judge the impact of their actions on achievement. We recommend that local authorities provide support for schools in these respects””."
We entirely endorse that recommendation. We see this as primarily a matter for local authorities, which have an ongoing and close relationship with schools, to see that when there are schools with good practice in this area—and all local authorities have some schools with excellent practice—that good practice is used to inform the behaviour of all schools in their area.
Subjects
Carers; Parents; Schools; Ofsted
Date
24 July 2007
Reference
694 c690-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept that some of the strongest relationships between parents and schools are where the child has special needs? What lessons can be learnt from the way in which those relationships are forged and promoted to use with all children, who do not necessarily have special needs but who need to learn effectively?
My Lords, does the Minister accept that some of the strongest relationships between parents and schools are where the child has special needs? What lessons can be learnt from the way in which those relationships are forged and promoted to use with all children, who do not necessarily have special needs but who need to learn effectively?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 July 2007
My Lords, that question has so many aspects that it is hard to know where to start. The ongoing relationship involving a dedicated teacher, for example—or, in the case of special needs, the special educational needs co-ordinator, which gives a dedicated point of reference in a school—can be of great benefit, as can ensuring that every parent has a point of contact in a school, whether it be a form teacher, a deputy head or some other person whom they can contact in the case of the child going off the rails or experiencing difficulties, which is the case with most children with special educational needs. That is immensely important in ensuring the strength of relationships between schools and parents.
Subjects
Carers; Parents; Schools; Ofsted
Date
24 July 2007
Reference
694 c692-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What is their response to the Ofsted report, Parents, carers and schools, published on Wednesday 18 July.
What is their response to the Ofsted report, Parents, carers and schools, published on Wednesday 18 July.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Adonis
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
24 July 2007
Answered on
24 July 2007
My Lords, we welcome the report on how schools involve parents. We want to build on good practice—for example, with better information sessions for parents when children start primary or secondary school, more effective use of information technology and parents support advisers being trialled in 1,100 schools, brokering access to relevant specialist services. When mothers, fathers, grandparents and other carers work with schools, there are significant positive effects on child outcomes.
Subjects
Carers; Parents; Schools; Ofsted
Date
24 July 2007
Reference
694 c690
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, but is he aware that the practice of fingerprinting in schools has been banned in China as being too intrusive and an infringement of children’s rights? Here, it is widespread. We have even had a head teacher tricking three year-olds into giving their fingerprints by playing a spy game. Will the Government ban schools from carrying out this practice, unless parents specifically opt into the system following full and independent information about the so-called benefits of the system and the dangers of identity fraud?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply, but is he aware that the practice of fingerprinting in schools has been banned in China as being too intrusive and an infringement of children’s rights? Here, it is widespread. We have even had a head teacher tricking three year-olds into giving their fingerprints by playing a spy game. Will the Government ban schools from carrying out this practice, unless parents specifically opt into the system following full and independent information about the so-called benefits of the system and the dangers of identity fraud?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 March 2007
My Lords, as I said, biometric data are covered by the Data Protection Act, whereby subjects must be given fair processing notices regarding the data and the purposes for which they will be used. Although children are by law the data subjects, it is normal, particularly in primary schools, for parents to be informed of data collected on their children. My department issues fair processing guidelines for schools, which is explicit about the need to see that such information is made fully available to parents.
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Biometrics; Fingerprints; Personal records; Parents; Pupils; Schools; Regulation
Date
19 March 2007
Reference
690 c1008-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the noble Lord take on board my concern about the number of highly qualified women scientists and engineers who either are not active in the workplace at all or are doing jobs at a much lower level than those for which they are qualified simply because they cannot find jobs that fit in with their family commitments? Are the Government supporting any programmes to help these women to get back to work in jobs for which they are qualified?
My Lords, will the noble Lord take on board my concern about the number of highly qualified women scientists and engineers who either are not active in the workplace at all or are doing jobs at a much lower level than those for which they are qualified simply because they cannot find jobs that fit in with their family commitments? Are the Government supporting any programmes to help these women to get back to work in jobs for which they are qualified?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
15 March 2007
Yes, my Lords. I can tell the noble Baroness that we are challenging employers by building a set of exemplar employers from both the public and private sectors, ensuring that we have good practice initiatives, including flexible working, helping to spread best practice and encouraging a culture change. We have also set up a £500,000 funding initiative to increase the number of senior and quality jobs that are available part time for women. That all follows on from the Women and Work Commission report. However, ultimately, most employers recognise that they need to do more to recruit and retain good employees, and of course women are at the forefront of the skills set of employees in today’s world.
Subjects
Flexible working; Parents
Date
15 March 2007
Reference
690 c822
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, but I hope that the Government will stop making excuses. Is he aware that the view of the UN committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a view which has been published since the 2004 Act, is that all corporal punishment of children within the family should be abolished? Therefore Section 58 is both unclear and unhelpful. Can he give us an assurance that this authoritative advice, along with that of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the human rights aspect of this issue, will be taken into account during the consideration of the review?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply, but I hope that the Government will stop making excuses. Is he aware that the view of the UN committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a view which has been published since the 2004 Act, is that all corporal punishment of children within the family should be abolished? Therefore Section 58 is both unclear and unhelpful. Can he give us an assurance that this authoritative advice, along with that of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on the human rights aspect of this issue, will be taken into account during the consideration of the review?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 February 2007
My Lords, I can give an assurance that we will take account of all the elements set out by the noble Baroness. However, I should point out that this is not a question of excuses on the part of the Government. We are carrying out the will of Parliament as set out in the Children Act 2004. As the noble Baroness knows, Section 58 of that Act began as an amendment to the Bill moved by her noble friend Lord Lester of Herne Hill, and was agreed by this House on a free vote of 226 to 91. So there is no question of excuses, the Government are carrying out the will of Parliament in this regard.
Legislation
Children Act 2004
Subjects
Children; Corporal punishment; Human rights; Protection; Parents; UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Date
5 February 2007
Reference
689 c476
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the most important aspect of services to such children is that they are properly joined up? Does he also agree that the best way of finding out whether they are properly joined up and serve the children in the way that they need is to ask children themselves? What are the Government doing about that?
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the most important aspect of services to such children is that they are properly joined up? Does he also agree that the best way of finding out whether they are properly joined up and serve the children in the way that they need is to ask children themselves? What are the Government doing about that?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
26 June 2006
My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness. On joined-up services, the new common assessment framework, used by children’s social services departments when assessing the needs of families for specialised services, includes the impact of alcohol misuse. As regards the voice of the child, which is important, we are funding work with the voluntary sector specifically in this area; for example, STARS, a charity that does very good work, runs a national network of practitioners who help substance-misusing parents, including those who misuse alcohol. It has its own website, a chat room and other facilities specifically to ascertain the voice of children, many of whom are very adversely affected.
Subjects
Children; Alcoholic drinks; Protection; Parents; Misuse
Date
26 June 2006
Reference
683 c1000
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept that assistance for families consists of more than financial support and that if families can access services early before their difficulties reach crisis point, it can be more cost effective than expensive interventions later? In the light of that, what are the Government doing to encourage children’s information services, schools, nurseries and everyone dealing with children to work together to support the hard-to-reach families who, perhaps because of language or cultural barriers, do not know what services are there to help them?
My Lords, does the Minister accept that assistance for families consists of more than financial support and that if families can access services early before their difficulties reach crisis point, it can be more cost effective than expensive interventions later? In the light of that, what are the Government doing to encourage children’s information services, schools, nurseries and everyone dealing with children to work together to support the hard-to-reach families who, perhaps because of language or cultural barriers, do not know what services are there to help them?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 June 2006
My Lords, I agree that supporting families is not only about income, but it is an important component of it. A whole raft of policies has an impact on the outcomes for families, and for children in particular. For example, the Government have introduced issues and policies such as increased maternity leave and pay, paternity leave and pay, adoption leave and pay, a new entitlement to parental leave and we have responded to the request for flexible working. We have created 1.2 million childcare places, we have guaranteed full or part-time nursery places for all three and four year-olds and we have set up more than 500 Sure Start schemes which are focused on providing a range of health, parenting and family support. I have already referred to tax credits. There is a plethora of other regeneration programmes to tackle issues of inequality and we have increased child benefit by 26 per cent in real terms.
Subjects
Cohabitation; Government assistance; Parents; Married people
Date
13 June 2006
Reference
683 c110-1
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister will be aware that in addition to the league tables based on SATs, other tables are also being prepared based on value added. First, can he say how these are computed and how reliable they are? Secondly, is he not concerned that only one teacher in 10 says that league tables have a positive impact on their teaching?
My Lords, the Minister will be aware that in addition to the league tables based on SATs, other tables are also being prepared based on value added. First, can he say how these are computed and how reliable they are? Secondly, is he not concerned that only one teacher in 10 says that league tables have a positive impact on their teaching?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 December 2005
My Lords, I am not sure where the noble Baroness got the figure of one in 10. I expect it is from a survey where that kind of result can be procured. We need to be clear that league tables are not for teachers; any good teacher will know what the performance of his pupils is. The purpose of performance tables is to benefit parents, who have a right to see the performance of their schools in key test and examination results. There is no issue on that.
In respect of value added, it measures value added between key stages. In the case of primary schools, it is between key stage 1 tests at the age of seven and key stage 2 tests at the age of 11, and in respect of secondary schools, between key stage 2 tests and GCSE.
Subjects
Information; Parents; Standards; Schools
Date
7 December 2005
Reference
676 c617
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
1st supplementary on the defence of reasonable chastisement.
1st supplementary on the defence of reasonable chastisement.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 March 2004
Subjects
Children; Discipline; Corporal punishment; Children's rights; Protection; Parents
Date
1 March 2004
Reference
658 c438-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether they plan to inform their child protection strategy by the experience of the European countries which afford children protection from assault in the home equal to that enjoyed by adults.
Whether they plan to inform their child protection strategy by the experience of the European countries which afford children protection from assault in the home equal to that enjoyed by adults.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Ashton of Upholland
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
1 March 2004
Answered on
1 March 2004
Subjects
Children; Discipline; Corporal punishment; Children's rights; Protection; Parents
Date
1 March 2004
Reference
658 c438-40
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords