This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman. I have asked her to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

All pupils in schools are taught about mental health as part of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum, which the department made mandatory in 2020 to ensure that all pupils are taught about important topics.

Schools can teach older pupils about suicide in an age-appropriate and sensitive way. The RSHE statutory guidance advises that schools should approach teaching about self-harm and suicide carefully and should be aware of the risks to pupils from exposure to materials that are instructive rather than preventative. This includes websites or videos that provide instructions or methods of self-harm or suicide. The guidance is clear that if teachers have concerns about a specific pupil in relation to self-harm or suicidal thoughts, they must follow safeguarding procedures immediately.

The department knows that the early years sector is facing economic challenges, similar to those being faced across the country. The department has already announced additional funding of £160 million in 2022/23, £180 million in 2023/24 and £170 million in 2024/25, compared to the 2021/22 financial year, for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers. This includes all maintained nursery schools.

The department has also confirmed the continuation of maintained nursery school (MNS) supplementary funding throughout the spending review period, providing the sector with long-term certainty. More recently it has been announced that the department will be investing an additional £10 million into MNS supplementary funding from 2023/24, and have consulted on proposals to reform the distribution of this funding to ensure that it is being shared more evenly across all local authorities with MNSs. Our proposals mean that the vast majority of local authorities, including Stockport, will see their supplementary funding hourly rate increase, with a more generous increase for the lowest funded. We will respond to the consultation and publish final funding rates for 2023/24 this autumn. This is on top of the increase for this year, where we have increased the MNS supplementary hourly rate by 3.5%, equivalent to the increase in the 3 and 4-year-old hourly funding rates.

Further, the government recognises the impact rising energy prices can have on businesses, voluntary sector or public organisations of all sizes. On 21 September 2022, the former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced a new Energy Bill Relief Scheme to support eligible schools and businesses large and small, including early years providers and maintained nursery schools, with their energy costs over the winter. The Chancellor has made clear this will continue from now until April 2023.

The department continues to monitor the sufficiency of childcare. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children. Ofsted data currently shows that the number of places offered by providers on the Early Years Register has remained broadly stable at 1.3 million places since August 2015. The Ofsted data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-providers-and-inspections-as-at-31-march-2022/main-findings-childcare-providers-and-inspections-as-at-31-march-2022.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. At present, Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency, which is covered by Cheshire West local authority, are reporting that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.

The department is committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare. We continue to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use government-funded support they are entitled to. The department collects data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England, and fees data can be broken down to local authority level. Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency falls within Cheshire West local authority, where the latest data shows the average hourly fee band for childcare is £4.75 for 2-year-old children and £4.75 for 3 and 4-year-old children.

One of the signs of a healthy and competitive market is that childcare providers may enter and exit it. The key measure of market health monitored by the department is whether local authorities believe that the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children in their area, rather than whether changes occur in the number and type of providers.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. The parliamentary constituency of Lancaster and Fleetwood is in the local authority of Lancashire. At present, all local authorities, including Lancashire, report that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.

The department continues to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use the government-funded support that they are entitled to. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England and fees data can be broken down to local authority level.

The latest data shows that the mean hourly fee band for Lancashire local authority is £4.50 for 2-year-olds and £4.75 for 3 and 4-year-olds.

One of the signs of a healthy and competitive market is that childcare providers may enter and exit it. The key measure of market health monitored by the department is whether local authorities believe that the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children in their area, rather than whether changes occur in the number and type of providers.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. The parliamentary constituency of Lancaster and Fleetwood is in the local authority of Lancashire. At present, all local authorities, including Lancashire, report that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.

The department continues to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use the government-funded support that they are entitled to. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England and fees data can be broken down to local authority level.

The latest data shows that the mean hourly fee band for Lancashire local authority is £4.50 for 2-year-olds and £4.75 for 3 and 4-year-olds.

One of the signs of a healthy and competitive market is that childcare providers may enter and exit it. The key measure of market health monitored by the department is whether local authorities believe that the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children in their area, rather than whether changes occur in the number and type of providers.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. The parliamentary constituency of Lancaster and Fleetwood is in the local authority of Lancashire. At present, all local authorities, including Lancashire, report that they are fulfilling their duty to ensure sufficient childcare.

The department continues to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use the government-funded support that they are entitled to. We collect data on the main characteristics of childcare and early years provision in England and fees data can be broken down to local authority level.

The latest data shows that the mean hourly fee band for Lancashire local authority is £4.50 for 2-year-olds and £4.75 for 3 and 4-year-olds.

The department completed a child rights impact assessment and an equalities impact assessment banning the placement of under 16s in unregulated provision. Children of this age should be placed in children’s homes or in foster care.

The department will keep these under review as we move forward with wider reforms to introduce mandatory national standards and Ofsted registration and inspection requirements for providers of unregulated supported accommodation for 16 and 17-year-old looked-after children and care leavers.

Ofsted will continue to monitor placement practice through the inspecting local authority children’s services framework, and the department will also continue to collect and review data on local authority placements via the annual children looked after data return. Data from the period, since the regulations were laid in 2021, will be submitted to the department by local authorities in 2022. This data will be monitored and tracked by the department and will assist us to understand the impact on outcomes for the children placed in these settings.

The department continues to monitor the sufficiency of childcare. One of the signs of a healthy and competitive market is that a range of providers are able to offer choice and flexibility for parents. 65% of early years childcare places in England are provided by private, voluntary, and independent group-based providers who continue to provide high-quality childcare for families. On disadvantaged two-year-old entitlements, 16,040 out of 22,074 providers that delivered services are in the private, voluntary, and independent sector.

The majority of eligible two, three, and four-year-olds continue to access free childcare, and local authorities are not reporting any substantial sufficiency or place supply issues that they are unable to manage locally. The department has not seen a substantial number of parents saying that they cannot secure a childcare place.

The department continues to engage with sector stakeholders and local authorities to monitor dynamics within local markets, parents' access to government entitlements and the childcare they require, and the sustainability of the sector.

The department does not have plans to assess the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on pupils who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM), nor to make changes to FSM eligibility. However, we continue to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.

The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.

The department does not have plans to assess the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on pupils who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM), nor to make changes to FSM eligibility. However, we continue to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.

The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.

The department does not have plans to assess the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on pupils who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM), nor to make changes to FSM eligibility. However, we continue to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.

The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.

The department does not have plans to assess the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on pupils who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM), nor to make changes to FSM eligibility. However, we continue to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.

The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of school children are now provided with FSM.

The department recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in further or higher education to support them with childcare.

Students starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018 are eligible to receive a postgraduate doctoral loan of up to £27,892 to help with course fees and living costs, including childcare.

In addition to the above childcare support for doctoral students, all parents are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education which is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances.

Working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds may also be eligible for an additional 15 hours of free childcare if they earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at national minimum/living wage and under £100,000 per year. Students who participate in paid work in addition to their studies and meet the income requirements will be eligible for the additional hours.

Parents who meet these income criteria may also be able to receive support from Tax-Free Childcare, which can be worth up to £2,000 per year for children aged 0 to 11, or up to £4,000 per year for disabled children aged 0 to 16.

Further information on the childcare offers available to parents can be found at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The department remains committed to improving the cost, choice, and availability of childcare, and we continue to look at ways to make childcare more affordable and to encourage families to use government-funded support they are entitled to.

Careers provision is embedded in the key stage 2 citizenship curriculum, which requires that pupils be taught about a range of possible careers, including careers in electronics and engineering.

The department announced in the Schools White Paper: Opportunity for All, a new programme for careers provision in primary schools. The programme will run from winter 2022 until March 2025 and will target primary schools in areas of disadvantage. We have allocated £2.6 million to fund this programme.

The programme will seek to inspire pupils about the world of work, drawing on positive role models from a range of industries and sectors to help raise aspirations, challenge stereotypes, and help children link their learning to future jobs and careers. Activities funded will align with the most relevant aspects of the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance for the primary age group. The eight Gatsby Benchmarks serve as a framework for improvement in careers provision for secondary schools and colleges.

The programme will include activities aligned with, for example, Gatsby Benchmark 4 regarding linking curriculum learning to careers to ensure that children have the chance to explore how literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects can help them develop the skills they will need for their future careers.

Since 18 September 2017, data on Sure Start children’s centres and children’s centre linked sites has been supplied by local authorities via the department’s get information about schools database portal, which is available at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.

The number of children’s centre closures is based on information supplied by local authorities as of 19 October 2022. These figures may differ from the number of closures reported locally and may change as local authorities can update their data at any time. Based on this latest information supplied as of 19 October 2022, no Sure Start children’s centres have closed in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency since 2010.

In March 2022, the department published the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper and the Schools White Paper, which set out plans to ensure every child can reach their full potential.

The Green Paper aims to drive national consistency in how needs are assessed, identified, and met across education, health, and care through the introduction of national standards. The department is considering the different options for developing these standards and we will continue to work with a variety of stakeholders as we develop our options.

The Green Paper consultation closed on 22 July 2022 and the department is currently analysing the responses. The department will publish a national SEND and AP implementation strategy in due course, setting out our response to the consultation and the next steps for developing national standards.

Information about school closures can be found through the government’s get information about schools service. The service shows that no maintained nursery schools have closed in the Dulwich and West Norwood constituency since 2010.

The get information about schools portal can be accessed at: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search.

The department does not have plans to assess the cost of changing the current eligibility conditions for free school meals (FSM).

The department continues to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue. The department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.

The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, 37.5% of pupils are now provided with FSM.

As an integral part of the process to set up Oak National Academy as an arm’s length body, the department produced a business case which included an assessment of potential market impact. This business case will be published shortly.

Monitoring market impact will be a priority throughout Oak National Academy’s lifetime and will be factored into the body’s ongoing evaluation and two-year review.

Where Oak needs to use existing third-party content, such as texts, Oak will seek to have an overarching licence with relevant licensing bodies wherever feasible (or direct relationships with rights holders where necessary) so the rights holder gets full payment for their work.