Written questions by Naish.

What steps she is taking to (a) improve the (i) timeliness and (ii) depth of educational psychology assessments and (b) end the use of short virtual consultations for children with complex needs.

Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including providing statutory input into education, health and care assessments. We know that current workforce shortages can be a barrier to timely input, which is why we are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from September 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.The special educational needs and disabilities code of practice does not stipulate the methodology that any of the professionals involved in assessments should use. We regard this as a matter for the respective professional bodies.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including a target of at least 80 hours of enrichment activities in the enrichment framework.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe to the answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62871.

What capital funding streams are available to academy trusts for essential playground (a) repairs and (b) replacement.

The government has given a long-term commitment for capital investment to improve the condition of schools and colleges across England through to 2034/35. It is investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and renewal, rising from £2.4 billion in 2025/26.The department supports local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary-aided school bodies, who are responsible for keeping buildings and grounds safe and well-maintained, by providing capital funding to improve the condition of their estates.The majority of capital funding is provided through annual School Condition Allocations to large responsible bodies, such as local authorities and large multi-academy trusts, to decide how to invest in improving the condition of their estates, including playgrounds. Small or stand-alone academy trusts and sixth form colleges bid for funding for essential condition projects through the Condition Improvement Fund.Schools also receive a small annual capital allocation, Devolved Formula Capital, to spend on their own capital priorities, such as replacing or upgrading playground equipment.Further details about capital funding for 2025/26 are published on GOV.UK.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of communication by Teachers’ Pensions with scheme members.

Teachers’ Pensions employs a wide range of communication methods to contact members of the scheme including via member portal, website, telephone contact centre, webchat, text messaging, post, email and social media platforms.The department regularly discusses the frequency, timeliness and content of key member updates with Teachers’ Pensions and how they are made available to relevant members.

On what evidential basis there is a six second time limit per question in the national multiplication tables check; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of this methodology on children with (a) special educational needs or disabilities and (b) other neurodiversity issues.

The multiplication tables check (MTC) assesses fluent recall of times tables, meaning the time available is a key element. The six second time limit was decided as the most appropriate to promote effective recall following a rigorous test development process, including trials of different time allowances with over 1,000 pupils. Six seconds minimises the use of inefficient methods of working out the answer, for example counting up.For pupils with processing difficulties, additional time was considered, but this approach would provide a less valid outcome for a check of fluency of recall. A range of alternative access arrangements are available, which schools should consider for individual pupils where appropriate to their needs.Although the MTC was designed to be accessible to most pupils, if pupils are unable to engage with it, schools should explain to parents how they are helping the pupil to learn their multiplication tables. Multiplication and division in a wider context will continue to be assessed through the end of key stage 2 mathematics assessment, providing further opportunity for pupils to demonstrate their understanding of multiplication tables.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holder dependent school pupils who are excluded from home fee status.

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

What her Department's planned timetable is for issuing guidance to dependents of BN(O) visa holders who plan to start university in 2026 on whether they will be eligible for home fee status.

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

What estimate she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for British National (Overseas) visa holders on the number of young people who (a) hold those visas and (b) are dependents of those visa holders who will be ineligible for (i) home fee status and (ii) student finance support at university.

The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of developing a national outcomes framework for family hubs.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.This builds upon my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood.We are working within the department and alongside the Department for Health and Social Care to share further information about what the Spending Review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing postgraduate-level apprenticeship funding on (a) recruitment and (b) retention in the independent advice sector.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57098.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ensure that all local authorities provide family hubs in their community.

On 11 June, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.This builds upon my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, published in December 2024, which outlined the ambition to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood.We are working within the department and alongside the Department for Health and Social Care to share further information about what the Spending Review settlement means for the continuation and expansion of the programme. We recognise the importance of providing local authorities with certainty of future funding across the whole programme and we will share further information when we are able to.

If she will consider ring-fenced funding for adult learners of all ages to access accredited (a) training and (b) qualifications in social-welfare advice.

The department will provide approximately £1.4 billion in funding for the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2025/26 academic year. The ASF fully funds or co-funds education and skills training for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to nine mayoral strategic authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The department is responsible for the remaining ASF in non-devolved areas.Colleges and grant funded providers in non-devolved areas have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their ASF, in line with the funding rules, and work with local stakeholders to determine what provision best meets local needs.

What steps her Department is taking help to ensure that teachers are trained to (a) identify and (b) support children with dyslexia; and if she will take steps to introduce universal dyslexia screening checks for children within their first two years of school.

​​I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Rushcliffe to the answer of 1 August 2025 to Question 61402. ​

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 58068 on Employment: British National (Overseas), if her Department will make an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the report by British Future entitled Working it Out: Hong Kongers, Employment and the Cost of Living, published on 29 October 2024.

As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, said in the latest six-monthly Report, this government will continue to stand with the people of Hong Kong, strengthening the connections between our societies and remaining steadfast in commitment to the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route. The UK provides a welcoming home to Hong Kongers today and will continue to do so for Hong Kongers tomorrow. Government departments continue to work together in support of that objective. The BN(O) Welcome Programme continues to provide support to Hong Kongers in the UK, including through a network of 12 Welcome Hubs, helping BN(O)s understand and connect to services in their local area.

With reference to the independent report entitled National review of higher education student suicide deaths, published on 21 May 2025, whether she plans to introduce a duty of candour for the higher education sector.

This government is committed to working with higher education providers, experts, and students to turn the findings of the national review of higher education (HE) student suicides into real, lasting improvements. That means better support for students, a commitment to openness with families, and a sector-wide focus on preventing these heartbreaking tragedies.The department continues to work with the HE mental health implementation taskforce to develop guidance and drive adoption across the sector. The taskforce will examine recommendations from the review, including the call for a duty of candour, and work to understand the most effective way to bring about change to ensure greater transparency with bereaved families following a suspected suicide.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of implementing a place-based approach to early years services to support literacy.

The government supports a place-based approach to early years services, recognising that local areas are best placed to understand and respond to the needs of their communities. Through the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, the department is enabling local authorities to deliver integrated, evidence-based support that strengthens the home learning environment, one of the most effective drivers of early literacy. Our national campaign, ‘Little Moments Together’, encourages parents to chat, play and read with their children, helping to build language-rich home environments. These efforts are part of our wider ambition under our Plan for Change to give every child the best start in life, improving early communication and literacy outcomes to ensure every child is ready to thrive at school. In the recent spending review, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme as part of the Spending Review 2025.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by British Future entitled Working it Out: Hong Kongers, Employment and the Cost of Living, published on 29 October 2024.

While no formal assessment of the report has been made, the department remains committed to supporting British National (Overseas) status holders through access to higher education, further education and English language training once residency criteria are met. We continue to work with partners across government to ensure British Nationals (Overseas) can thrive.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure cross-border cooperation between local education authorities in the planning and allocation of school places.

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is introducing new duties for mainstream state schools and local authorities to co-operate regarding school admissions and for state schools to co-operate with local authorities regarding place planning. Where co-operation breaks down or fails, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education will be able to intervene. This measure will help ensure that admissions and place planning decisions account for local communities’ needs.Local authorities, academy trusts and local partners should work together on place planning. We expect local authorities to share their place planning strategy and data with local partners, which can include neighbouring local authorities.Local authorities are required to ensure that their scheme to co-ordinate admission arrangements for the normal admissions round considers the admission of pupils in different local authority areas where that is what parents wish. Where possible their scheme of coordination should be compatible with the coordination schemes of neighbouring authorities. Where local authorities receive cross border applications, we expect the authorities to work together to ensure families receive timely decisions on national offer day, at the highest preference school that can offer the child a place.

Whether her Department provides funding for equestrian activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The department provides funding for local authorities, schools and other education providers so that they can discharge their statutory duties relating to children with special educational needs and disabilities. It is for local authorities and schools to decide what provision to make available to support their education, and whether that support would include equestrian activities. The department does not collect information on the extent to which such activities are offered.

Whether she plans to provide (a) guidance and (b) training to (i) local authority careers services and (ii) college course providers on the (A) rights and (B) eligibility of British National (Overseas) visa holders for post-16 (1) education and (2) adult learning programmes.

The government is spending £1.4 billion on the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2024/25 academic year, which funds English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision for adult learners.The general principle within ASF rules is that adults must be ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years preceding their first day of learning, although there are exceptions set out in the department’s funding rules. The department’s guidance to ASF providers, including local authorities on residency eligibility is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules/adult-skills-fund-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2024-to-2025.Although British Nationals (Overseas) arriving from Hong Kong are not immediately eligible for ASF funding, funding of up to £850 per adult is available to support access to English language classes for those on the British Nationals (Overseas) route. For those aged 16-19, eligibility is explained in the student eligibility section of the statutory guidance ‘Advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2025 to 2026’, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-regulations-for-post-16-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2025-to-2026#sectionthree.Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs). Devolution works because local leaders can use their mandate for change to take decisions needed to drive growth and convene local partners to tackle shared problems. While MSAs follow the department’s rules on residency, decisions around how they spend their devolved funding and their approach to monitoring are for them to make.