Written questions by Savage.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact on public confidence in the consultation process of departmental announcements describing proposed SEND reforms in definitive terms before the consultation had closed.

Awaiting answer.

Whether draft legislation, implementation frameworks or operational delivery models for the proposed SEND reforms had been prepared before the consultation on those reforms closed on 18 May 2026.

Awaiting answer.

Whether ministers or officials had reached agreement on core policy positions relating to (a) Individual Support Plans, (b) Education, Health and Care Plan reform, (c) National Inclusion Standards and (d) Specialist Provision Packages prior to the conclusion of analysis of consultation responses.

Awaiting answer.

Whether she plans to publish the evidence, modelling and legal analysis underpinning the Government's position that proposed SEND reforms will strengthen protections for disabled children and young people.

Awaiting answer.

What steps she is taking to ensure the proposed SEND reforms meet relevant legal obligations under (a) the Children and Families Act 2014, (b) the Equality Act 2010 and (c) Article 23 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Awaiting answer.

What national dataset her Department is using for proposed reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities system.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of local authority data on special educational needs and disabilities provision when costing proposed reforms to that system.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that data supporting compliance with statutory duties relating to special educational needs and disabilities is held and accessible across local authorities in England.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps she is taking to ensure that proposed reforms to the SEND system help support local authorities to comply with their statutory duties.

The Schools White Paper sets clear expectations for local authorities in regard to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision and we are backing that with significant investment to support transformation of the system.We have written to local authorities and Integrated Care Boards requesting SEND reform plans on improving outcomes for children.We will hold them to account to deliver strong outcomes for children and young people with SEND and intervene decisively wherever needed.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rural early years setting closures on (a) low-income, (b) part-time and (c) any other parental workers.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

What plans she has to review early years funding policy to help ensure it is fit for purpose for rural and shared-setting providers.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we help deliver the government’s Plan for Change and the ambition for a record proportion of children to be starting school ready by 2028.To ensure that the early years funding system is hardwired to benefit those children and parts of the country that have higher levels of additional need, the department will review early years funding, including national funding formulae, and consult the sector on changes by Summer 2026.As part of their local formulae, local authorities can make use of supplements for up to 12% of the total value of planned formula funding to providers for each of the entitlements. This means that local authorities can tilt part of the hourly rate to different providers in an area to reflect different needs and circumstances at provider level. The allowable supplements include a rurality and sparsity supplement that local authorities have the discretion to use.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications of rural early years provision in sustaining village communities and preventing rural depopulation on her Department's funding policy for early years.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

How many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years; and what proportion of those were operating from shared or temporary premises.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

Whether she plans to introduce a (a) rurality and (b) sparsity weighting within the Early Years National Funding Formula.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we help deliver the government’s Plan for Change and the ambition for a record proportion of children to be starting school ready by 2028.To ensure that the early years funding system is hardwired to benefit those children and parts of the country that have higher levels of additional need, the department will review early years funding, including national funding formulae, and consult the sector on changes by Summer 2026.As part of their local formulae, local authorities can make use of supplements for up to 12% of the total value of planned formula funding to providers for each of the entitlements. This means that local authorities can tilt part of the hourly rate to different providers in an area to reflect different needs and circumstances at provider level. The allowable supplements include a rurality and sparsity supplement that local authorities have the discretion to use.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on supporting early years provision delivered through village halls and other community assets.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

If her Department will issue guidance to Ofsted and local authorities on recognising the operational challenges faced by early years providers operating from shared community buildings.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

What assessment her Department has made of the financial viability of rural early years providers operating from (a) village halls and (b) any other shared community premises where daily set-up and pack-down costs are not reflected in current funding rates.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

What guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the use of (a) sustainability and (b) contingency funding to prevent the closure of sole early years providers in rural villages.

In 2026/27, the department expects to provide over £9.5 billion for the early years entitlements, more than doubling annual public investment in the early years sector compared to 2023/24, as we have successfully rolled out the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. The department has announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life. The first phase of the programme is creating up to 6,000 new nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 have been made available from September 2025.The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking to address those issues and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.The department does not hold data on how many rural early years settings have closed in each of the last five years and the proportion of those that were operating from shared or temporary premises. The department sets the standards and statutory requirements that all early years providers in England must meet. There is no published national statistic (for the UK or individual nations) that gives a numerical proportion of rural childcare providers operating specifically from shared or temporary premises. Neither the England Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers nor Ofsted statistical releases break down premises type in this way for rural settings.Ofsted is responsible for the registration, regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England.

What steps she is taking to help support recruitment and retention of early years staff in rural areas, including consideration of travel costs, wage supplements, and shared staffing models.

The Best Start in Life strategy lays the foundation for long-term improvements to recruitment and retention in early years. The department is building a stronger, more skilled workforce to meet rising demand through new routes into the workforce, targeted recruitment campaigns and operational flexibilities for childminders. We are championing early years teachers, with plans to more than double the number of training places on Early Years Initial Teacher Training by 2028, a new degree apprenticeship route with financial support to deliver this, and financial incentive to attract and keep early years teachers in nurseries serving the most disadvantaged communities. In 2026/27, we expect to provide over £9.5 billion, more than doubling the government’s commitment to funded childcare since 2023/24 and reflecting above inflation increase to funding rates and National Living Wage increases. To go further, we will review early years funding, including the national funding formulae, and consult the sector on changes by summer 2026.

Whether her Department plans to review how regional cost-of-living disparities are taken into account when calculating student maintenance support, particularly for lower-income students studying in rural university towns with limited housing supply.

To help higher education students with cost-of-living pressures, we are future-proofing maintenance loans by increasing them in-line with forecast inflation every year and reintroducing targeted means-tested maintenance grants of up to £1,000 per year from 2028/29. This year, we increased maximum maintenance loans by 3.1%, to £10,544 for students living away from home studying outside London, £13,762 for students living away from home studying in London, and £8,877 for students living at home.Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby, will bring together sector experts and chair the Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group. Its remit includes developing options to address regional disparities in access for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are also working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to encourage universities to work with their local authorities on strategic approaches to meeting student housing needs.