Written questions by Hayes.

What steps her Department is taking to increase access to special educational needs assessments in Lincolnshire.

The department wants to drive a consistent and inclusive approach to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to achieve and thrive in mainstream settings through early identification, effective support, high-quality teaching and effective allocation of resources.Through a graduated approach, teachers are responsible for monitoring the progress of all pupils and putting support in place where needed. Where a child who has special educational needs (SEN) needs more support than their school can usually provide, schools, parents or carers can ask the local authority to carry out an education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment.Local authorities must conduct EHC needs assessment if a child or young person has or may have SEN and it may be necessary for special educational provision to be made in accordance with an EHC plan.The department recognises the critical role of educational psychologists within the SEND system, including their statutory contribution to EHC assessments. The department is investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from 2024, building on the £10 million currently being invested in a cohort of over 200 trainees who began their training in 2023. Trainees will join the workforce to support the capacity of local authority educational psychology services, including in delivering assessments.A joint local area SEND inspection of Lincolnshire Local Area Partnership (LAP) was undertaken by Ofsted/CQC in February 2025, and the report is expected to be published imminently. Following publication, the LAP will be required to update their strategic plan, and the department’s regional team will put in place systems to track outcomes against any areas for improvement identified by inspectors, and the progress made by children and young people with SEND.

How many of the new school-based nurseries will be in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

Under the school-based nurseries capital grant for 2024 to 2025, schools could apply to create or expand school-based nursery provision. This first phase funded 300 projects to make high-quality childcare more available and accessible for families, delivering on our Plan for Change to ensure a record proportion of children start school ready to learn. Seven schools received funding in the Lincolnshire local authority. Four schools will be opening new, school-run nurseries. There will be two in South Holland and The Deepings, one in Sleaford and North Hykeham, and one in Lincoln. The remaining funded projects are for expansions of existing nurseries. One in Boston and Skegness, one in Rutland and Stamford, and one in Gainsborough. The published list of successful projects is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-based-nursery-capital-grant-application-outcomes?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=fe34fce2-3673-4d46-9ff6-d06d1c0d1cf8&utm_content=immediately.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of school transport available to parents of SEND children in Lincolnshire.

I refer the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings to the answer of 30 December 2024 to Question 20796.

What steps she is taking to meet the demand for specialist SEND school places in Lincolnshire.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.This government knows that many children and young people with SEND struggle to find a suitable school placement that is close to their home and meets their needs. We are committed to addressing this by improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools to support a range of needs, reducing the need for pupils to travel a long way to access a specialist placement, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. Many mainstream settings are already going above and beyond to deliver specialist provision locally, including through resourced provision and special educational needs units.The department has now published allocations for £740 million in high needs provision capital allocations for the 2025/26 financial year, to support local authorities to deliver new specialist places.Lincolnshire Council has been allocated £10.3 million for 2025/26, and it is up to the local authority to make decisions about the places they create and to prioritise this funding to meet local needs.

What estimate her Department has made of the level of funding from Chinese firms into the UK education sector in the next ten years.

HM Government carefully considers the security implications of proposed investments, to reach a balanced decision between UK economic growth and national security.As an open economy, the UK benefits from foreign trade and investment where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements and does not compromise our national security. No accurate estimates of future investments can be made for specific sectors.

Whether Ofqual has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2010.

This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sir Ian Bauckham, to write to the right hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Whether the Education and Skills Funding Agency has offered apprenticeships in each year since 2017.

The government is committed to using apprenticeships to break down barriers to opportunity, support skills development and deliver more effective public services.As the policy holder for apprenticeships, the department has achieved over 5% of departmental headcount for the last three years. We offer apprenticeships to fill strategic skills gaps and as a development opportunity to all employees.The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025, with its work being integrated into the department.The department has made use of apprenticeships in its workforce since 2016 and recruitment data for ESFA can be found in the following table: YearNumber of ESFA Apprentice enrolments starting in year2016320176201850201960202057202156202251202316202426

What progress her Department has made on ensuring that every school in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire has a defibrillator.

All state-funded schools in South Holland and the Deepings that did not already have a defibrillator received them under the department’s programme, which has now closed.

How much funding she plans to provide for school infrastructure in (a) South Holland district and (b) South Kesteven district in each of the next three financial years.

School buildings are integral to high and rising standards and need to be fit for the future. The department has announced, for the 2025/26 financial year, capital funding allocations for school condition and for funding high needs capacity.Mainstream basic need allocations have been published for the 2025/26 to 2027/28 financial years. Other funding plans for 2026/27 and beyond will be confirmed following the multi-year spending review.We are increasing capital funding to improve the condition of school buildings to £2.1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, up from £1.8 billion for 2024/25. As part of this, Lincolnshire County Council, which includes South Holland and South Kesteven districts, has been provisionally allocated a school condition allocation (SCA) of £5,873,159 to invest across its maintained schools. Maintained schools in Lincolnshire have also been provisionally allocated a total of £913,014 in devolved formula capital (DFC) to spend on their own capital priorities.Large multi-academy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies have also been provisionally allocated SCA, but allocations typically span across district and local authority boundaries. Smaller multi-academy and single academy trusts and sixth form colleges were instead eligible to apply to the Condition Improvement Fund, with outcomes due to be published later in the spring. Eligible non-maintained schools in Lincolnshire have also been provisionally allocated DFC. Final allocations will follow later in the spring.In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme is rebuilding or significantly refurbishing buildings at over 500 schools, including Tulip Academy and University Academy Long Sutton in South Holland.The department has published £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2025/26 financial year, to support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, and to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings. Of this, Lincolnshire County Council has been allocated £10.3 million.Lincolnshire County Council has also been allocated just over £39 million of basic need capital grant over the current and next two financial years, to support it to create the mainstream school places needed by September 2028.The department has recently announced 300 successful applicants for the school-based nursery capital grant, including two within the South Holland and the Deepings Parliamentary constituency.

How many and what proportion of 18-year-olds have taken (a) three and (b) more than three A-levels in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in each of the last five academic years.

The requested data can be found in the attached table.Data is based on students attending schools and colleges located in each geography who have reached the end of 16 to 18 study.

How many and what proportion of key stage four students who completed their GCSEs went on to (a) start apprenticeships, (b) study A levels and (c) start vocational technical qualifications in (i) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (ii) Lincolnshire in each of the last five academic years for which data is available.

The information requested is not held centrally.The department does, however, measure the proportion of students in state-funded mainstream schools who go on to sustain a destination after completing their key stage 4 study. Data relating to South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/7c67e37a-6bf9-4706-9b63-08dd7377d1ad.A breakdown of the sustained education destination by A level and vocational technical qualifications is not readily available, however, the number of students at the end of their 16 to 18 study who studied A levels and vocational technical qualifications in South Holland and the Deepings constituency can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4dbda504-885f-4ecd-a918-08dd736ca4ba.

What steps she is taking to improve mental health support for children with special educational needs in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Schools are required to identify and address the special educational needs (SEN) of the pupils they support and, in the case of mainstream settings, to use their best endeavours to make sure that a child or young person who has SEN gets the support they need. All schools should apply the ‘graduated approach’ that is outlined in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice, which means identifying a child’s needs, planning appropriate support, implementing that support and reviewing it regularly to ensure it continues to meet the identified needs. Through this, schools should develop personalised approaches to supporting the unique needs of individual pupils.We will provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. Further information on the support, as at 31 March 2024, for pupil's provided by NHS-funded mental health support teams in Lincolnshire schools is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision.The department will also recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults, and open new Young Futures hubs with access to mental health support workers.

Whether she plans to remove funding for level 6 apprenticeships.

Level 6 apprenticeships are a core part of the department’s apprenticeships offer and continue to be funded by government.

If she will make a comparative assessment of trends in the levels of academic attainment from children in schools that (a) have and (b) have not banned smartphones in the last 12 months.

Schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with similar functionality to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime, as set out in the ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance 2024. The department expects all schools to take steps in line with this guidance to ensure mobile phones do not disrupt pupils’ learning.

What proportion of the growth and skills levy will be reserved for apprenticeship training.

This government’s first mission is to kickstart economic growth. We know that skills gaps are holding back business growth and that we need to support employers to invest in skills training. Our new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy.The new training offer will include shorter duration apprenticeships. From August 2025, subject to the legislative timetable, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months. This change means apprentices will be able to achieve occupational competence more quickly, where appropriate.The department will also introduce foundation apprenticeships for young people, a work-based offer providing high-quality progression pathways into further work-based training and employment, including occupationally specific apprenticeships.These are the first steps in expanding the apprenticeships offer into a wider levy-funded growth and skills offer that works better for employers, individuals and the wider economy. The government has established Skills England to form a coherent national picture of skills gaps across all sectors and to help shape the technical education system so that it is responsive to skills needs. This will include advising on priorities for the new growth and skills offer.

Whether training in the workplace will be a condition of support under the growth and skills levy.

This government’s first mission is to kickstart economic growth. We know that skills gaps are holding back business growth and that we need to support employers to invest in skills training. Our new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy.The new training offer will include shorter duration apprenticeships. From August 2025, subject to the legislative timetable, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months. This change means apprentices will be able to achieve occupational competence more quickly, where appropriate.The department will also introduce foundation apprenticeships for young people, a work-based offer providing high-quality progression pathways into further work-based training and employment, including occupationally specific apprenticeships.These are the first steps in expanding the apprenticeships offer into a wider levy-funded growth and skills offer that works better for employers, individuals and the wider economy. The government has established Skills England to form a coherent national picture of skills gaps across all sectors and to help shape the technical education system so that it is responsive to skills needs. This will include advising on priorities for the new growth and skills offer.

What recent steps she has taken to raise awareness of apprenticeships in (a) rural and (b) remote areas.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and to grow the economy.The department continues to raise awareness of the benefits of apprenticeships across the country, including in rural areas. This includes promoting apprenticeships to young people, adults and employers through the Skills for Life campaign. The department also supports the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, a network of over 2,000 volunteer employers and former and current apprentices, who volunteer their time to inform and inspire the next generation of apprentices and apprentice employers.The department is transforming career opportunities and advice to increase awareness of the range of high-quality options available to young people, including apprenticeships.The department has committed to guarantee two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person, as well as to establish a national jobs and careers service to support people into successful long-term employment.

What criteria will be used to determine how the new growth and skills levy may be spent; and whether a criteria will be published.

This government’s first mission is to kickstart economic growth. We know that skills gaps are holding back business growth and that we need to support employers to invest in skills training. Our new levy-funded growth and skills offer will introduce greater flexibility to employers and learners in England, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, aligned with the government’s industrial strategy.The new training offer will include shorter duration apprenticeships. From August 2025, subject to the legislative timetable, the minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months. This change means apprentices will be able to achieve occupational competence more quickly, where appropriate.The department will also introduce foundation apprenticeships for young people, a work-based offer providing high-quality progression pathways into further work-based training and employment, including occupationally specific apprenticeships.In response to feedback from employers and learners, the department has already introduced flexibilities for employers to the English and mathematics requirements for adult apprentices.These are the first steps in expanding the apprenticeships offer into a wider levy-funded growth and skills offer that works better for employers, individuals and the wider economy. The government has established Skills England to form a coherent national picture of skills gaps across all sectors and to help shape the technical education system so that it is responsive to skills needs. This will include advising on priorities for the new growth and skills offer.

What her planned timetable is for establishing Skills England on a statutory basis.

Skills England is already operational in shadow form and the government intends for it to be established as an executive agency soon. This model of arm’s length body provides a strong fit for Skills England as it can be operationalised quickly and provides independence, while ensuring sufficient proximity to the department, so that Skills England can inform decisions on skills policy and delivery.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of school uniform costs on families in Lincolnshire.

I refer the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings to the answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38113.