Written questions by Trott.

What her Department’s policy is on state schools charging parents for mandatory laptops or IT equipment used during school hours.

The department's guidance on charging for school activities is clear that there should be no charge for state funded education. Section 454 of the Education Act 1996 prohibits schools from charging for education during school hours or for the supply of materials, books or other equipment, like laptops or IT equipment, that are required for education during school hours. Schools may ask parents to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of equipment, but must make clear that these are voluntary. The Act allows an exemption to enable schools to charge for equipment where a parent wants their child to own it, but parents should not be pressured into this. The guidance on charging for school activities can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charging-for-school-activities.

Whether her Department has consulted with local early years providers when identifying locations for new school-based nursery provision.

Local authorities are required by legislation to secure sufficient childcare places for children in their area. To be eligible for phase 1 of the school-based nurseries programme, schools had to obtain the endorsement of their local authority by evidencing local early years demand.Schools were required to confirm that their local authority early years lead and pupil place planning lead were content with their proposal to create new or expanded nursery provision. Local authorities also had the opportunity to provide further comments to the department on any applications from schools in their area, as part of the assessment process.

If her Department will publish a list of (a) the proposed locations for new school-based nurseries and (b) the criteria used to select them.

Phase one of the School-Based Nurseries Capital Grant 2024/25 was open to all state funded primary-phase schools across England. We published a list of the successful schools, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-based-nursery-capital-grant-application-outcomes.The criteria used to determine the location of the new and expanded school-based nurseries was published in our applicant guidance and included local demand for nursery places.

What steps her Department is taking to monitor the potential impact of new nursery provision on childcare (a) availability and (b) affordability in areas already served by existing providers.

Local authorities are required by legislation to secure sufficient childcare places for children in their areas, and the department will continue to speak to local authorities in England about their sufficiency of childcare. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and, where needed, support with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the expansion of school-based nurseries is focused on addressing childcare deserts and areas with significant unmet need.

The department is committed to ensuring that the expansion of school-based nurseries targets areas of need, while complementing the existing childcare market. In the first phase of the programme, schools could only apply with local authority endorsement, ensuring alignment with local demand and strategic oversight. In some areas, no bids were supported, due to a lack of identified need. In the first phase of the programme, the majority of new nurseries are in the North or Midlands, increasing access to childcare in cold spots and supporting the communities that need it most.The department is currently reviewing the targeting and implementation approach for future phases of the programme. We will learn from the initial phase and will continue working closely with the sector to inform our planning, ensuring new provision meets the needs of children, parents, and the local community.

What recent progress her Department has made on the Mainstream Schools Review; and when she expects to announce the outcome.

The review has focused on ensuring that government funding is targeted where it is most needed. In the past, a significant proportion of spending on free schools has created surplus capacity, resulting in subsequent closure of new schools. Some of that funding could have been put to better use by improving the deteriorating condition of our existing schools and colleges.The department understands that trusts and local authorities want to have certainty about their projects as soon as possible. We will provide an update on next steps to trusts and local authorities in due course.

How many children will cease to be eligible for free school meals following the expiry of transitional protections.

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. We have now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy coming later this year.Providing over half a million children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with a free, nutritious lunchtime meal every school day will also lead to higher attainment, improved behaviour and better outcomes, meaning children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life.The department is absolutely clear that no pupil with transitional protections will lose their entitlement to free meals before the new entitlement to free meals is introduced.The department’s published statistics show that over half a million more children will benefit from a free meal, after accounting for the removal of transitional protections: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/estimate-of-additional-children-claiming-free-school-meals-following-expansion-of-eligibility/2025.

When she plans to publish the national behaviour survey for the 2023-24 academic year.

The National Behaviour Survey for the 2023/24 academic year is due to be published in the summer.

When she plans to publish the guidance on gender-questioning children for schools.

I refer the hon. Member for Sevenoaks to the answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 31690.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase to (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the national living wage on trends in the level of fees paid by parents with children in early education and childcare.

It is the department’s ambition that parents have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and childcare. ​​This government has had to take some tough decisions to get our public finances back on track, but this government has increased investment in the early years to drive forward progress towards our plan for change target of a record number of children starting school ready to learn.In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements, as we roll out the expansion of the entitlements, so eligible working parents of children aged from nine months can access 30 hours of funded childcare. This is an increase of more than 30% compared to the 2024/25 financial year.This increase ensures funding for the entitlements, reflects forecasts of average earnings and inflation next year, and also reflects the National Living Wage announced at the Autumn Budget 2024.The department also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year. On top of this, we are providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the Early Years Expansion Grant.We are additionally providing £25 million through the forthcoming National Insurance contributions grant for public sector employers in the early years.From the start of September 2024, eligible working parents have been entitled to 15 hours a week of early education and care from the term after their child turns nine months. So far, over 320,000 additional parents are now accessing a place. Going further, from September 2025, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of early education and childcare a week.Parents may also be eligible for childcare support through Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit childcare.The department also wants to ensure that parents are aware of and accessing all government funded childcare support they are eligible for. The department is raising awareness of the government-funded childcare support available via the Childcare Choices campaign to boost children’s life chances and parents’ work choices.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of universally expanding the 30 hours of government funded childcare scheme.

Accessible and high quality early education and childcare is a crucial part of giving every child the best start in life, boosting children’s life chances and giving parents work choices.The government is committed to delivering the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer, so that from September 2025 eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their child turns nine months old to when they start school. However, this government has been clear that this will be tough to deliver as we inherited a pledge with no plan behind it. That is why the department is doing everything it can, working closely with childcare providers, to deliver the additional places the sector will need from September 2025.All three and four year-old children are eligible for the universal 15 hours free early education entitlement from the term starting on or after 1 September, 1 January or 1 April following their third birthday.

What discussions she has had with Brighton and Hove City Council on its proposed new school admissions policy.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has not had discussions with Brighton and Hove City Council on its proposed new school admissions policy.When changes are proposed to admission arrangements, paragraphs 1.45 – 1.48 of the school admissions code require admission authorities to consult for at least six weeks with relevant parties. Brighton and Hove City Council held their consultation between 6 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. The council are then required to determine (agree) the final admission arrangements by 28 February 2025. Once the council have determined their admission arrangements they must publish a copy of the determined admission arrangements on their website by 15 March 2025.Once the admission arrangements have been determined anyone who considers them to be unfair may raise an objection to the Schools Adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must be referred to the Adjudicator by 15 May 2025.The Adjudicator’s role is to consider whether the admission arrangements and consultation comply with the school admissions code and admissions law.The Adjudicator can only act on an objection that they have received through the correct channels. Information on how to object to an admission authority’s admission arrangements can be found on the Office of the Schools Adjudicator’s website, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-admissions-arrangements.As Brighton and Hove City Council’s admission arrangements have not yet been determined, an objection cannot be raised.

If she will take steps to refer the proposed new Brighton and Hove City Council school admissions policy to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has not had discussions with Brighton and Hove City Council on its proposed new school admissions policy.When changes are proposed to admission arrangements, paragraphs 1.45 – 1.48 of the school admissions code require admission authorities to consult for at least six weeks with relevant parties. Brighton and Hove City Council held their consultation between 6 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. The council are then required to determine (agree) the final admission arrangements by 28 February 2025. Once the council have determined their admission arrangements they must publish a copy of the determined admission arrangements on their website by 15 March 2025.Once the admission arrangements have been determined anyone who considers them to be unfair may raise an objection to the Schools Adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must be referred to the Adjudicator by 15 May 2025.The Adjudicator’s role is to consider whether the admission arrangements and consultation comply with the school admissions code and admissions law.The Adjudicator can only act on an objection that they have received through the correct channels. Information on how to object to an admission authority’s admission arrangements can be found on the Office of the Schools Adjudicator’s website, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-admissions-arrangements.As Brighton and Hove City Council’s admission arrangements have not yet been determined, an objection cannot be raised.

Whether she has received any (a) advice or (b) communication from the Office of the Schools Adjudicator on Brighton and Hove City Council’s proposed new school admissions policy.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has not had discussions with Brighton and Hove City Council on its proposed new school admissions policy.When changes are proposed to admission arrangements, paragraphs 1.45 – 1.48 of the school admissions code require admission authorities to consult for at least six weeks with relevant parties. Brighton and Hove City Council held their consultation between 6 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. The council are then required to determine (agree) the final admission arrangements by 28 February 2025. Once the council have determined their admission arrangements they must publish a copy of the determined admission arrangements on their website by 15 March 2025.Once the admission arrangements have been determined anyone who considers them to be unfair may raise an objection to the Schools Adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must be referred to the Adjudicator by 15 May 2025.The Adjudicator’s role is to consider whether the admission arrangements and consultation comply with the school admissions code and admissions law.The Adjudicator can only act on an objection that they have received through the correct channels. Information on how to object to an admission authority’s admission arrangements can be found on the Office of the Schools Adjudicator’s website, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-admissions-arrangements.As Brighton and Hove City Council’s admission arrangements have not yet been determined, an objection cannot be raised.

What assessment she has made of potential impact of Brighton and Hove City Council new schools admission policy on school children.

This government believes admissions arrangements should be fair, lawful and support good outcomes for all children.School admission arrangements are set and applied locally by the admission authority for each school. After providing highest priority to looked after and previously looked after children, it is for the council, as the admission authority for the community and voluntary-controlled schools in its area, to decide what oversubscription criteria to apply for places at its secondary schools and in what order the criteria are applied. The purpose of consultation is to provide the local community the opportunity to express any concerns that they may have about the proposed admission arrangements.Admission arrangements must be fair, clear and objective, and comply with the school admissions code. To ensure that a school’s admission arrangements meet the needs of their local community, the admission authority is required to consult on them locally when making a change.The consultation for Brighton and Hove City Council went live on 6 December 2024 and closed on 31 January 2025. The council is required to determine the final admission arrangements for September 2026 by 28 February 2025.Once the council has determined their admission arrangements, anyone who feels they are unlawful or unfair may raise an objection to the schools adjudicator. Objections to admission arrangements must be referred to the adjudicator by 15 May in the year they were determined. The adjudicator’s role is to consider whether the admission arrangements and consultation comply with the school admissions code and admissions law. The adjudicator’s decisions are binding and enforceable.

How many staff her Department plans to recruit into the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellent teams; and by what date the team will be fully operational.

The department’s first 20 RISE advisers are now in post and work has begun with the first RISE schools. The advisers will work alongside the department to help support schools break down the barriers to opportunity and end the link between background and success. A full list of these advisers has been published on GOV.UK.In addition to the RISE advisers in post, the department launched a recruitment campaign for a full cohort of advisers to start in the spring and summer term. We will be informing candidates of the outcome of this campaign shortly. Workforce allocations for 2025/26 have not yet been set.

With reference to his Department's consultation entitled School Accountability Reform – school profiles, improvement and intervention, published on 3 February 2025, whether schools due to receive structural intervention in early 2025 will still do so.

Schools that are still due to convert and join a high-quality multi-academy trust or are due to move into a new high-quality multi-academy trust in early 2025 will do so.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of cancelling the computing hubs programme on the uptake of computer science level (a) two and (b) three qualifications by (i) female and (ii) male students.

The department’s continued investment in the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE) for the 2025/26 financial year will continue to support the teaching of computing, increase participation in computer science qualifications at level two and three, including from female students, and support computer science A level students in achieving high grades.The NCCE will continue to deliver the ‘I Belong’ programme, which aims to improve schools’ awareness of the barriers to girls’ engagement with computing and supports them in taking a sustained course of action to improve the take up of computer science qualifications within their school.The NCCE also delivers industry-led, virtual events for pupils which raise awareness of digital opportunities and careers in sectors such as cyber and artificial intelligence, and Isaac Computer Science, an online platform supporting GCSE and A level computer science students with revision support and careers information events. In the 2022/23 academic year, 98% of the 1,297 schools with computer science A level results used Isaac.Due to the fiscal challenges inherited from the previous government, this government has had to make tough decisions across the public sector to get our finances back under control and to ensure we deliver on our priorities through our Plan for Change. Funding beyond the 2025/26 financial year will be considered through the upcoming spending review.

When she will publish the impact assessments for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

The impact assessment was published on 30 January.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to language hubs on the (a) uptake of languages and (b) diversity of opportunities available to students at GCSE level.

The ongoing investment in the National Centre for Language Education (NCLE) in the 2025/26 financial year will continue to support the teaching of languages and increase participation in languages qualifications, including through continued professional development and new support models which are anticipated to reach more schools.One of NCLE’s key aims is to increase access to home, heritage and community languages. It is, however, up to schools to decide which languages are taught as part of their curricula.