Written questions by Hinds.

What guidance her Department provides on schools making second hand uniform available.

The government’s statutory guidance requires schools to ensure that arrangements are in place for parents to acquire second-hand school uniforms, for example through periodic second-hand uniform sales or swap shops, and to make these arrangements clear on their website. This guidance is available here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms. Too many families tell us that the cost of providing school uniform remains a financial burden. That is why we are introducing legislation to limit the number of expensive branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require.

For what reason a school tie is not permitted as an additional item of branded uniform in primary schools in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities, but too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items, with parents reporting uniforms are their most significant cost of school concern. This government has therefore 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. This will give parents more choice in where to purchase uniform and allow them greater flexibility to make the spending decisions that suit their circumstances.The vast majority of primary schools do not currently require pupils to purchase a branded tie and, as most primary schools already have a lower number of compulsory branded items, this government does not want that number to increase. Primary schools will remain free to require a branded tie, however it will count towards their three branded item limit.In comparison, most secondary and middle schools already require branded ties, with 82% of secondary schools requiring a tie. Allowing secondary and middle schools an additional branded tie balances reducing costs for parents with providing those schools with necessary extra flexibility in setting their uniform policies. For example, it allows a secondary school to retain a branded tie and blazer whilst still being able to brand other items across PE kit and daywear, according to their circumstances.

What estimate he has made of spending on mental health services for children and young people in each year for which data are available.

The following table shows actual spend on children and young people’s mental health by clinical commissioning groups and integrated care boards: Financial yearAmount (£ million)2017/18687.22018/19753.32019/20841.42020/21938.32021/22994.82022/231,087.702023/241,180.40 Source: NHS Mental Health Dashboard, NHS England

Whether he has changed the recipients by position entitled to pre-release access to reports since June 2024.

The Minister for Cabinet Office has not made any changes to pre-release access to official statistics since 5 July 2024.

Whether her Department is collecting data on trends in the number of in-year school applications in each local authority area.

The department does not collect data on the number of in-year school admission applications received in each local authority area. Admission authorities must notify their local authority of all in-year applications they receive and their outcomes. Local authorities are not required to co-ordinate the in-year admissions process for schools in their area for which they are not the admission authority, although some local authorities choose to do so. In areas where the local authority does not co-ordinate in-year admissions, schools which are their own admission authority manage their own in-year admissions processes and parents must submit their applications directly to the admission authorities of the schools they wish to apply.

With reference to NHS England's statistics entitled Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 - wave 4 follow up to the 2017 survey, published on 21 November 2023, whether he plans to publish further updates to those statistics.

Although no decisions have yet been made to commission further waves, the Government recognises the importance of the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Report. We will publish plans in due course.

What information her Department holds on the average fees charged by independent schools for the term starting in (a) January 2024, (b) September 2024 and (c) January 2025.

The school level annual school census collects information each January from all registered independent schools in England. This collection includes information from each school on the lowest and highest fees charged for day and boarding pupils, before the application of any bursaries or other forms of fee reduction.Using the average of the reported lowest and highest fees charged for each school from the latest information available, from the January 2024 collection, shows that across independent schools that charge fees:• The mean annual day fee charged was £27,642• The median annual day fee was £15,371• The mean annual boarding fee was £52,399• The median annual boarding fee was £32,310.Data from the 2025 January collection will be available late June 2025.

What steps her Department is taking to monitor trends in Education Health and Care Plan applications by local authority area.

Information on applications for education, health and care (EHC) plans is collected from local authorities via the annual SEN2 data collection each January. SEN2 is a statutory return. It includes information on requests for assessment for an EHC plan made to each local authority and the outcome of that request, the assessments for an EHC plan made by each local authority and the outcome of that assessment, as well as information on the EHC plans maintained by the authority.The information collected also contains characteristics of the individual, such as sex, ethnicity and age.This information is subsequently published for each local authority in the ‘Education, health and care plans’ statistical release, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. This publication includes the number of requests for assessment for an EHC plan and the number of assessments for an EHC plan as returned by each local authority.In addition to the SEN2 data, the department also monitors trends using more timely operational data directly from local authorities.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled One of the largest mental health trials launches in schools, published on 4 February 2019, what the results of those trials were.

In September 2017, the department commissioned a series of trials in schools across England testing five different approaches to supporting and promoting young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The aim of these trials was to improve the evidence available to schools in choosing how they support their pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.As part of these trials, children received mindfulness exercises, relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to help them regulate their emotions, alongside lessons on mental health and wellbeing led by teachers and mental health experts.The randomised control trials have now concluded. The government will publish the findings in the coming months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 17084 on Schools: Per Capita Costs, if she will provide these figures adjusted for inflation by the (a) retail price index and (b) consumer price index.

The GDP deflator is the standard measure of inflation for public spending and is an appropriate measure for school costs. Therefore, the department does not produce estimates for the real terms increases in spending per pupil using the Consumer Price Inde...

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 17084 on Schools: Per Capita Costs, how much and what proportion of the additional funding will be used for pay increases already awarded to teachers in th

In the 2024/25 financial year, the government announced almost £1.1 billion through the Core Schools Budget Grant (CSBG) to support schools with overall costs. This matches what the department had calculated is needed to fully fund, at a national level, t...

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17780 on Employers' Contributions, if she will make an estimate of the (a) median and (b) mean average number of people employed by the employers that she expec

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November. Around 250,000 employers will see their Secondary Class 1 NICs liability decrease and around 820,000 employers will see no change.

What steps she is taking to ensure that people with learning disabilities can access work experience opportunities.

The department is committed to ensuring that young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have equitable access to work experience opportunities.Data published by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) provides evidence of an incr...

If she will take steps to ensure that people with learning disabilities are able to access as many work experience opportunities as people without learning disabilities.

The department is committed to ensuring that young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have equitable access to work experience opportunities.Data published by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) provides evidence of an incr...

What steps she is taking to improve further education opportunities for people with Down syndrome.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Further education (FE) colleges must use their...

When she expects teaching of GCSE Natural History to begin.

All young people should have access to a broad and balanced curriculum with a range of qualification routes and choices. The government is considering the next steps for a natural history GCSE.The government has also established an independent Curriculum ...

What assessment has she made of the potential merits of writing by hand in learning to write lessons.

The department supports the development of strong writing skills at each stage of children’s education and development.In the early years foundation stage (EYFS), it is important for children to develop their fine motor skills in order to write and allow ...

How many mental health professionals the previous Government planned to be placed in schools in each of the next three academic years; and how many he plans to place in schools in the same period.

Nationally, there are, on average, 8,400 pupils or learners and 17 schools or colleges per mental health support team (MHST), up to and including waves seven and eight. There are 109 MHSTs that will become part of the programme in waves nine and 10, with ...

If she will make a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) employment and (b) wage-level effects resulting from increases to employer National Insurance Contributions on (i) women and (ii) men.

The Office for Budget Responsibility’s October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook expects that the Employer National Insurance Contributions package will lead to a reduction in the participation rate of 0.1 per cent from 2025-26 onwards. Overall, once the i...

What estimate she has made of the proportion of employers who will pay (a) the same and (b) less in employer National Insurance Contributions from April 2025.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 November. Around 250,000 employers will see their Secondary Class 1 NICs liability decrease and around 820,000 employers will see no change.