Written questions by Bailey.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of flat-rate per-pupil funding for breakfast clubs in mainstream schools on the accessibility of these clubs for pupils with SEND.

Following the success of the 750 early adopters, where we invested £30 million in the 2025/26 financial year, the department is now moving to national rollout, raising the budget to £80 million to fund an additional 2,000 schools joining the programme between April 2026 and March 2027.The department has used the rich learning from the early adopters, existing programmes and costs to determine funding rates for national rollout, and this has been tested and refined with schools. This includes mainstream schools with special educational needs and disabilities pupils.The funding rate for national rollout will take this learning into account and provide schools with the autonomy they need to allocate funding to promote inclusive access and ensure the offer reaches those who need it most.The department will provide further information on the funding for national rollout in the near future, alongside specifics on eligibility, funding, and expectations.

What steps she is taking to support sixth-form colleges.

This government is committed to driving economic growth and supporting opportunity for all, and further education (FE) is central to this.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £300 million in 2025/26 for FE at the Autumn Budget 2024. We will set out how the additional funding will be distributed in due course.

What steps she is taking to help improve the (a) employment, (b) training and (c) educational opportunities available for young people participating in cadet programmes.

The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadets schemes. The Cadet Expansion Programme will receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year and through to the 2033/2034 financial year. This goes to the single Service (i.e. Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations, to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.The department provides £3.5 million to enable cadets to achieve an ‘out of school hours’ level 2 or 3 vocational qualification. The qualifications recognise the wide variety of skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership skills that cadets gain while attending their unit, which are transferable to further and higher education, as well as the workplace.These qualifications are directly linked to community, social action and volunteering, and are carefully mapped to the training programmes of the cadet forces. For the cadet forces, the current offer is:BTEC Level 1 in Teamwork and Personal Skills for Uniformed Youth Organisations. 1 year course, age range: 13 to 15.BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community. 2 year course, age range: 16 to 18.ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. 1 year course, age range: 16 +.Further details are available here: https://cvcollege.org/our_qualifications/.There are no current plans to make an assessment of the merits of introducing 16 to 18 scholarships for young people participating in cadets programmes. However, there are initiatives at a local level to support cadets with financial barriers to participate.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing 16-18 scholarships for young people participating in cadet programmes.

The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadets schemes. The Cadet Expansion Programme will receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year and through to the 2033/2034 financial year. This goes to the single Service (i.e. Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations, to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.The department provides £3.5 million to enable cadets to achieve an ‘out of school hours’ level 2 or 3 vocational qualification. The qualifications recognise the wide variety of skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership skills that cadets gain while attending their unit, which are transferable to further and higher education, as well as the workplace.These qualifications are directly linked to community, social action and volunteering, and are carefully mapped to the training programmes of the cadet forces. For the cadet forces, the current offer is:BTEC Level 1 in Teamwork and Personal Skills for Uniformed Youth Organisations. 1 year course, age range: 13 to 15.BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community. 2 year course, age range: 16 to 18.ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. 1 year course, age range: 16 +.Further details are available here: https://cvcollege.org/our_qualifications/.There are no current plans to make an assessment of the merits of introducing 16 to 18 scholarships for young people participating in cadets programmes. However, there are initiatives at a local level to support cadets with financial barriers to participate.