This Government is committed to harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence to improve the productivity of the Civil Service and the quality of public services.

The Department provides officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tools that have been assured to the...

This Government is committed to harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence to improve the productivity of the Civil Service and the quality of public services.

The Department provides officials, Ministers and special advisers with access to secure, enterprise-grade generative AI tools that have been assured to the...

Statement on this Government's vital work to give every child the best start in life.

Statement on this Government's vital work to give every child the best start in life.

Motion that this House has considered the matter of giving every child the best start in life. Agreed to on question.

Motion that this House has considered the matter of giving every child the best start in life. Agreed to on question.

Statement on free school meals for children.

Statement on free school meals for children.

Programme (No. 2) motion. Report stage (first day). New clause 18, discussed with further new clauses, new schedules and amendments. Agreed to on question. New clauses 19-22 agreed to. New clause 36 negatived on division (159 to 317). Clauses 4, 11, 18, 20 and new Schedule 1 agreed to, some with amendments. Clause 12, amendment 188, negatived on division (160 to 319). Bill to further considered tomorrow.

Programme (No. 2) motion. Report stage (first day). New clause 18, discussed with further new clauses, new schedules and amendments. Agreed to on question. New clauses 19-22 agreed to. New clause 36 negatived on division (159 to 317). Clauses 4, 11, 18, 20 and new Schedule 1 agreed to, some...

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on question.

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The following extract is from the eighth sitting of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Public Bill Committee on 30 January 2025.

With regard to the consent for home education, if someone has ever been subject to a safeguarding concern, we believe that this is a proportionate response...

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The following extract is from the eighth sitting of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Public Bill Committee on 30 January 2025.

With regard to the consent for home education, if someone has ever been subject to a safeguarding concern, we believe that this is a proportionate response...

New clauses considered. New clause 5 (Provision of free school meals and activities during school holidays) withdrawn. New clause 8 (Identification of children eligible for free school meals) discussed with discussed with new clause 31 (Eligibility for free school lunches) and new clause 67 (Registration of children eligible for free school meals). NC 8 withdrawn. New clause 9 (Requirement to provide information about bereavement services) discussed with new clause 52 (Bereavement policy in schools). NC 9 withdrawn. New clause 11 (benefits of outdoor education to children's wellbeing) discussed with new clause 12 (Provision of residential outdoor education for children in kinship care). NC 11 withdrawn. New clause 13 (Foster carers' delegated authority for children in their care) withdrawn. New clause 15 (National statutory inquiry into grooming gangs) negatived on division (3 to 11). New clause 17 (Academy conversion support grant) discussed with new clause 19 (Trust capacity fund). NC 17 withdrawn. New clause 18 (School Trust CEO Programme) withdrawn. New clause 20 (Approved free schools and university training colleges in pre-opening) withdrawn. New clause 21 (School attendance: general duties of local authorities) under consideration with new clause 24 (Academies: regulations as to granting a leave of absence).

New clauses considered. New clause 5 (Provision of free school meals and activities during school holidays) withdrawn. New clause 8 (Identification of children eligible for free school meals) discussed with discussed with new clause 31 (Eligibility for free school lunches) and new clause 67 (Registration of children eligible for free...

New clauses considered. New clause 21 (School attendance: general duties of local authorities) discussed with new clause 22 (School attendance policies) and new clause 24 (Academies: regulations as to granting a leave of absence). NC 21 withdrawn. New clause 25 (Report on the impact of charging VAT on private school fees) withdrawn. New clause 30 (Publication of details of preventative care and family support) discussed with new clause 72 (Duty on local authorities to provide family support services). NC 30 withdrawn. New clause 31 (Eligibility for free school lunches) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 31 (duty of school governing bodies regarding mental health provision) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 34 (National tutoring guarantee) withdrawn. New clause 36 (Establishment of a national body for SEND) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 37 (Arrangements for national examinations for children not in school) withdrawn. New clause 38 (Consultation on the structures of governance for local authority and academy schools) withdrawn. New clause 39 (Establishment of a Child Protection Authority) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 42 (Establishment of national wellbeing measurement programme) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 48 (Ban on mobile phones and other devices in schools) negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 49 (Report on behaviour in schools) discussed with new clause 70 (Appointment of anti-bullying leads). NC 49 withdrawn. New clause 51 (Duty for schools to report acts of violence against staff to the police) negatived on division (6 to 10). New clause 55 (Independent review in relation to orders under section 87(3)(B) of the Education Act 2002) withdrawn. New clause 58 (Right to review school curriculum material) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 59 (Kinship care leave) discussed with new clause 60 (Kinship care allowance), new clause 61 (Extension of pupil premium to children subject to a kinship care arrangement) and new clause 62 (Admissions arrangements relating to looked after children and children in kinship care). NC 59 withdrawn. New clause 60 negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 63 (Exemption from education legislation for the purpose of raising educational standards) withdrawn. New clause 64 (Pay and conditions of school support staff in England) withdrawn. New clause 67 (Registration of children eligible for free school meals) negatived on division (3 to 10). New clause 68 (Guidance on the admission on summer-born children with EHC plans) discussed with new clause 69 (Collection and publication of data relating to summer-born children). NC 68 withdrawn. New schedule 1 (Pay and conditions of academy teachers: amendments to the Education Act 2002) agreed to. Bill as amended, to be reported. Written evidence reported to the House.

New clauses considered. New clause 21 (School attendance: general duties of local authorities) discussed with new clause 22 (School attendance policies) and new clause 24 (Academies: regulations as to granting a leave of absence). NC 21 withdrawn. New clause 25 (Report on the impact of charging VAT on private school...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The following extract is from the seventh sitting of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Public Bill Committee on 30 January 2025.

On delivery, I want to reassure the shadow Minister that schools will be funded and supported to deliver the new breakfast clubs. We are working...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

The following extract is from the seventh sitting of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Public Bill Committee on 30 January 2025.

On delivery, I want to reassure the shadow Minister that schools will be funded and supported to deliver the new breakfast clubs. We are working...

Clauses 51 to 54 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clauses 55 to 60 agreed to, one with an amendment. Amendment 93, clause 59 agreed to. Amendment 48, clause 51 (negatived on division (3 to 12). New clauses considered. New clause 6 (Care leavers not to be regarded as becoming homeless intentionally) agreed to. New clause 10 (Abolition of common law defence of reasonable punishment) agreed to. New clause 57 (Pay and conditions of academy teachers) agreed to. New clause 1 (Implementation and recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child sexual Abuse) withdrawn. New clause 2 (Provision of free school lunches to all primary school children) withdrawn. New clause 3 (Reporting of local authority performance regarding EHC plans) withdrawn. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clauses 51 to 54 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to. Clauses 55 to 60 agreed to, one with an amendment. Amendment 93, clause 59 agreed to. Amendment 48, clause 51 (negatived on division (3 to 12). New clauses considered. New clause 6 (Care leavers not to be regarded as becoming...

Clause 30 agreed to. Amendment to clause 31 negatived on division (3 votes to 12). Clauses 31 and 32 agreed to. Amendment to clause 33 negatived on division (6 votes to 11). Clauses 33 to 39 agreed to. Amendment to clause 40 negatived on division (5 votes to 12). Clause 40 agreed to. Clause 41, discussed with new clause 44 (Flexibility to not follow the National Curriculum), new clause 53 (Exemption from requirement to follow National Curriculum in the interests of improving standards), new clause 54 (Exemption from requirement to follow National Curriculum where Ofsted approves curriculum), new clause 65 (Flexibility to take into account local circumstances when following the National Curriculum), and new clause 66 (Parliamentary approval of revisions of the National Curriculum), under consideration when the Committee adjourned.

Clause 30 agreed to. Amendment to clause 31 negatived on division (3 votes to 12). Clauses 31 and 32 agreed to. Amendment to clause 33 negatived on division (6 votes to 11). Clauses 33 to 39 agreed to. Amendment to clause 40 negatived on division (5 votes to 12). Clause...

Clauses 21-22 agreed to, one with an amendment. Clause 23 under consideration.

Clauses 21-22 agreed to, one with an amendment. Clause 23 under consideration.

Clauses 11 to 13 agreed to. Two amendments to clause 14 negatived on division (2 votes to 11 and 3 votes to 11, respectively). Clauses 14 to 20 agreed to. Committee adjourned till 30 January. Written evidence reported to the House.

Clauses 11 to 13 agreed to. Two amendments to clause 14 negatived on division (2 votes to 11 and 3 votes to 11, respectively). Clauses 14 to 20 agreed to. Committee adjourned till 30 January. Written evidence reported to the House.

Amendment to clause 7 negatived on division (5 votes to 11). Clause 7 agreed to. Clause 8, discussed with new clause 40 (National offer for care leavers), agreed to. Clause 9 agreed to. Amendment to clause 10 negatived on division (5 votes to 11). Clause 10 agreed to. Clause 11 and clause 12 stand part under consideration when the Committee adjourned.

Amendment to clause 7 negatived on division (5 votes to 11). Clause 7 agreed to. Clause 8, discussed with new clause 40 (National offer for care leavers), agreed to. Clause 9 agreed to. Amendment to clause 10 negatived on division (5 votes to 11). Clause 10 agreed to. Clause 11...

Ensuring schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life.

We are committed to improving the condition of the estate through the department’s annual funding,...

Ensuring schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life.

We are committed to improving the condition of the estate through the department’s annual funding,...

Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported to the House.

Examination of witnesses. Written evidence reported to the House.

Programme motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Written evidence motion agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Programme motion agreed to. Motion to sit in private agreed to. Written evidence motion agreed to. Examination of witnesses.

Topical Questions

The following extract is from Education Questions on 4 November 2024.

The teachers and staff at Hornsea school and language college do a fantastic job for their 1,300 pupils, including 90 with SEND, but they do so in crumbling buildings with leaking roofs. With the news in last week’s Budget...

Topical Questions

The following extract is from Education Questions on 4 November 2024.

The teachers and staff at Hornsea school and language college do a fantastic job for their 1,300 pupils, including 90 with SEND, but they do so in crumbling buildings with leaking roofs. With the news in last week’s Budget...

Government’s Childcare Expansion

The following are extracts from the statement on the Government’s Childcare Expansion on 17 October 2024.

On school-based nurseries, the pilot during the testing phase is for 300 places from April. Our ambition is for 3,000 places over the course of this Parliament.

[Official Report, 17 October 2024; Vol. 754,...

Government’s Childcare Expansion

The following are extracts from the statement on the Government’s Childcare Expansion on 17 October 2024.

On school-based nurseries, the pilot during the testing phase is for 300 places from April. Our ambition is for 3,000 places over the course of this Parliament.

[Official Report, 17 October 2024; Vol. 754,...