Written questions by Hinds.

Whether she plans for the rules on school uniform contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to be adjustable by secondary legislation.

For too many families, the cost of uniform remains a financial burden. ​This is why the department has introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities. The department believes a clear and transparent limit, set out in primary legislation, is the most effective way to make schools remove unnecessary and expensive branded items and bring down costs for parents. There are no plans for this measure contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to be adjustable by secondary legislation.

With reference to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, whether there will be a de minimis value below which a required uniform item would not count towards the limits for branded items of school uniform.

There will not be a de minimis value below which a required uniform item would not count towards the limit for branded items of school uniform. The department wants to ensure that the action we are taking to reduce the cost of uniform provides schools and parents with clarity about which items are in scope.The explanatory notes to the bill, which set out the detail of the measures included, are available here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909/publications.

If she will make an assessment of the impact on participation of the change in the average cost of domestic school trips since 2019; and if she will make an assessment of the trends in the levels of the contributing factors for the changes in that average cost.

The department is providing schools with an additional £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, taking total core school budgets to over £64.8 billion. Schools have autonomy over how they use this funding to best support their pupils based on their individual circumstance, including any spending decisions on school trips.

If she will take steps to maintain the number of children eligible for free school meals at approximately the same level in the context of the maturity of the universal credit rollout.

Free school meal support is available to households receiving Universal Credit, and with an annual earned income of £7,400 or less.This government’s ambition is to drive down poverty through our Child Poverty Strategy and cross-government work to support more parents into employment and to increase their working hours.

When she next plans to review the per-meal funding rate for free school meals.

The department spends over £1.5 billion annually on the provision of free and nutritious meals to 2.1 million of the most disadvantaged school pupils, 90,000 low-income students in further education, and 1.3 million infant pupils. In addition to this, eligibility for free meals drives billions of additional pounds in disadvantage funding.The government will continue to engage with schools to ensure high-quality meals are provided for children. As with all government programmes, the department keeps free school meal provision under review.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing auto-enrolment for free school meals.

The free school meals (FSM) scheme provides nutritious school lunches to children who could otherwise not afford them. To support take-up, the department provides an Eligibility Checking System so that eligibility can be checked as quickly and straightforwardly as possible. The department is pressing ahead with an upgraded Eligibility Checking System which will allow parents to check their own eligibility, making it quicker and easier for both families and local authorities to register eligible children for FSM.The department is aware of locally led approaches to boost take-up of free lunches. To support these approaches, we are working with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to explore options on data sharing that will make it easier to identify families who are eligible to make a claim. We expect to have these in place from spring next year, well ahead of the 2026 academic year.Officials are also working with the Department for Work and Pensions to consider how enrolment may be supported through the Universal Credit claims process.The department will monitor the impact of these policies and engage with local authorities to assess the impact that these changes are having on uptake of FSM.

What estimate she has made of the potential impact of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions on the average cost of providing free school meals.

The department is providing schools and high needs settings with over £930 million in the 2025/26 financial year to support them with their increased National Insurance contributions (NICs) costs. This support is additional to the £2.3 billion increase to core school funding announced at the Autumn Budget 2024.Schools will have flexibility in how they use funding through their NICs grant allocations to meet their overall cost increases as a result of the NICs changes.

When she next plans to review her Department's guidance on school food standards.

It is important that children eat nutritious food at school and the department encourages schools to have a whole-school approach to healthy eating. The School Food Standards define the foods and drinks that must be provided, that are restricted and those which must not be provided.We keep our approach to school food and its guidance under continued review.

What estimate she has made of the proportion of children educated otherwise than at school that would be eligible for free school meals and are in receipt of (a) free school meals and (b) vouchers in place of free school meals.

The department expects local authorities to consider free school meal (FSM) provision for children and young people receiving education otherwise than at school (EOTAS) in accordance with Section 61 of the Children and Families Act 2014.  This is set out in our published guidance.The department has not made a formal assessment of the proportion of children EOTAS who would be eligible for free meals and are receiving FSM or vouchers in place of FSM. We are clear, however, that local authorities should be considering food provision in line with our FSM guidance.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the availability of (a) in-school breakfast and (b) after school clubs on (i) workforce participation and (ii) average hours of work.

The evidence on the benefits of wraparound childcare to help parents work, and work more, is clear. Research shows 43% of non-working mothers report they would prefer to work if they could arrange good-quality, convenient, reliable and affordable childcare, and 54% of parents say they have problems finding formal childcare for their child that is flexible enough to fit their needs. As of February 2024, 76% of parents reported that the main reason that they used wraparound childcare was so that they or others in their household could go to or seek work. Parents who use a breakfast club report that its availability enables them to go to work.This is why, through the free breakfast clubs programme and the wraparound childcare programme, the department is creating more before and after school childcare places.We have procured an independent evaluator to conduct a robust evaluation of the wraparound programme, reporting in 2027. The evaluation seeks to understand the impact that expanded wraparound provision has had on the parental labour market participation and parental attitudes towards labour market participation and childcare use.The breakfast club early adopters scheme will provide a test and learn phase, allowing the department to develop robust evidence of the impact of the programme and implement lessons learned ahead of national rollout, to maximise the positive impact on families.

How many and what proportion of primary schools with breakfast provision supported under the National School Breakfast Programme are located in the 10% most deprived wards in England.

As of February 2025, 341 (21%) of primary schools taking part in the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) are in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Around 22% of primary schools in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England were taking part in the NSBP as at February 2025.The department has selected the schools of the breakfast club early adopter scheme to ensure there is a representative sample of primary schools nationally.This government’s new breakfast clubs are about more than the food. They provide opportunities for children to play and socialise before the start of the school day, supporting children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially.This is why the department is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every school with primary aged children, with schools receiving funding to cover food, delivery and staffing costs. This goes far beyond the reach of the NSBP in all, and importantly, the most disadvantaged areas.On average, schools on the breakfast club early adopter scheme will get over £21,000 more than schools on the current NSBP.An average primary school, with 50% take-up, would receive over £23,000 for a full year for an early adopter breakfast club. The amount each school will receive will be based on the number of pupils who accessed the club and the characteristics of pupils.The department has used existing programmes and costs to determine the funding rates, and this has been tested and refined with a number of schools. One function of the early adopters is to test how schools utilise the funding and understand what support schools need.

What proportion of those primary schools in the 10 per cent most deprived wards in England have breakfast provision supported by the National School Breakfast Programme.

As of February 2025, 341 (21%) of primary schools taking part in the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) are in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Around 22% of primary schools in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England were taking part in the NSBP as at February 2025.The department has selected the schools of the breakfast club early adopter scheme to ensure there is a representative sample of primary schools nationally.This government’s new breakfast clubs are about more than the food. They provide opportunities for children to play and socialise before the start of the school day, supporting children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially.This is why the department is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every school with primary aged children, with schools receiving funding to cover food, delivery and staffing costs. This goes far beyond the reach of the NSBP in all, and importantly, the most disadvantaged areas.On average, schools on the breakfast club early adopter scheme will get over £21,000 more than schools on the current NSBP.An average primary school, with 50% take-up, would receive over £23,000 for a full year for an early adopter breakfast club. The amount each school will receive will be based on the number of pupils who accessed the club and the characteristics of pupils.The department has used existing programmes and costs to determine the funding rates, and this has been tested and refined with a number of schools. One function of the early adopters is to test how schools utilise the funding and understand what support schools need.

What estimate she has made of the annual operating cost for a 30 minute daily breakfast provision for a typical (a) single, (b) two and (c) three form entry primary school.

As of February 2025, 341 (21%) of primary schools taking part in the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) are in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Around 22% of primary schools in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England were taking part in the NSBP as at February 2025.The department has selected the schools of the breakfast club early adopter scheme to ensure there is a representative sample of primary schools nationally.This government’s new breakfast clubs are about more than the food. They provide opportunities for children to play and socialise before the start of the school day, supporting children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially.This is why the department is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every school with primary aged children, with schools receiving funding to cover food, delivery and staffing costs. This goes far beyond the reach of the NSBP in all, and importantly, the most disadvantaged areas.On average, schools on the breakfast club early adopter scheme will get over £21,000 more than schools on the current NSBP.An average primary school, with 50% take-up, would receive over £23,000 for a full year for an early adopter breakfast club. The amount each school will receive will be based on the number of pupils who accessed the club and the characteristics of pupils.The department has used existing programmes and costs to determine the funding rates, and this has been tested and refined with a number of schools. One function of the early adopters is to test how schools utilise the funding and understand what support schools need.

How many and what proportion of schools in the pilot for the new free primary breakfast provision are located in the 10% most deprived wards in England.

As of February 2025, 341 (21%) of primary schools taking part in the National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) are in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. Around 22% of primary schools in the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England were taking part in the NSBP as at February 2025.The department has selected the schools of the breakfast club early adopter scheme to ensure there is a representative sample of primary schools nationally.This government’s new breakfast clubs are about more than the food. They provide opportunities for children to play and socialise before the start of the school day, supporting children’s attendance and attainment, enabling them to thrive academically and socially.This is why the department is committed to introducing free breakfast clubs in every school with primary aged children, with schools receiving funding to cover food, delivery and staffing costs. This goes far beyond the reach of the NSBP in all, and importantly, the most disadvantaged areas.On average, schools on the breakfast club early adopter scheme will get over £21,000 more than schools on the current NSBP.An average primary school, with 50% take-up, would receive over £23,000 for a full year for an early adopter breakfast club. The amount each school will receive will be based on the number of pupils who accessed the club and the characteristics of pupils.The department has used existing programmes and costs to determine the funding rates, and this has been tested and refined with a number of schools. One function of the early adopters is to test how schools utilise the funding and understand what support schools need.

What information her Department holds on the average (a) length of (b) time off the job in apprenticeships in (i) England (ii) Germany.

The average expected duration of an apprenticeship in England is published in the apprenticeships statistics publication, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e4c10266-a793-4c29-0de2-08dd5ccbf23a.The ‘Apprenticeship evaluation 2023: learner, non-completer and employer surveys’ contains survey-based information on apprenticeship duration and off-the-job training hours undertaken, noting that proportions are given rather than averages: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-evaluation-2023-learner-non-completer-and-employer-surveys.The last published estimate of average off-the-job training hours in England covers the 2018/19 academic year. See Table 3 in the ‘Further education and skills: November 2019 statistics’ publication here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5ddd3bbd40f0b650d9ba9b15/FE_and_Skills_commentary_November_2019.pdf.The publication of off-the-job training hours estimates was stopped from the 2019/20 academic year onwards after a review of their quality, particularly regarding the robustness of comparisons over time.Equivalent information for Germany is not held by the department.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Low Emission Zones on the cost of school trips made by coach by schools in (a) Greater London and (b) other parts of the country.

Schools typically offer a range of enriching opportunities, including trips, for pupils but it is for schools to decide what to offer in line with their curriculum and what works for the children and families they serve. The department has not made an assessment of the impact of Low Emission Zones on the cost of school trips made by coach.

What comparative assessment she has made of rates of school absence in academic year 2023-24 in England relative to the other home nations.

The department does not publish statistics on the other home nations besides England. The rates of school absence on the other home nations have been aggregated from the individual nations’ government websites.

What the evidential basis is for her Department's funding allocations to schools for the National School Breakfast programme.

The national school breakfast programme (NSBP) is a demand-led programme, established under the previous government. It is a food-only programme which does not include staffing costs. Eligible schools place breakfast food orders with the department’s supplier, Family Action, via their portal, rather than being allocated funding directly. Schools are charged 25% of food and delivery costs by the supplier, with the department covering the remaining 75% of the costs. Schools can therefore order as much food as they need on the system.The department works closely with Family Action to monitor take-up of the programme by eligible schools, alongside monitoring school-level food and delivery costs. The number of schools on the scheme is relatively stable.

What steps her Department is taking to measure the actual costs for the schools participating in the existing National School Breakfast programme.

The national school breakfast programme (NSBP) is a demand-led programme, established under the previous government. It is a food-only programme which does not include staffing costs. Eligible schools place breakfast food orders with the department’s supplier, Family Action, via their portal, rather than being allocated funding directly. Schools are charged 25% of food and delivery costs by the supplier, with the department covering the remaining 75% of the costs. Schools can therefore order as much food as they need on the system.The department works closely with Family Action to monitor take-up of the programme by eligible schools, alongside monitoring school-level food and delivery costs. The number of schools on the scheme is relatively stable.

How many and what proportion of the schools participating in the new breakfast club pilot previously had no breakfast provision.

Findings from the ‘School and college voice: February 2024’ report show that 28% of primary school leaders, excluding special schools, said their school does not offer childcare both before and after school. Of those offering childcare both before and after school, this includes paid for childcare and clubs with only limited spaces available. The department does not hold data on the duration of each existing breakfast club in England. The department’s new breakfast clubs are free, open to all pupils in the school, include food and are at least 30 minutes in duration.The primary schools which will start delivering the government’s free breakfast clubs from the summer term as early adopters are a nationally representative sample of primary schools in England.