Written questions by Niblett.

If she will take steps to support applications for apprenticeships for students on Homes for Ukraine visas that expire before the course concludes.

Students on Homes for Ukraine visas are eligible to undertake an apprenticeship where they are able to complete the apprenticeship within the time they have available. All apprenticeships must be at least 12 months in duration.We want learners to be able to complete their apprenticeships within the time they have available. Where the learner’s residency permit does not extend to the entire length of the apprenticeship, they are not eligible for funding. The department will keep this under review, as it does with all of its rules.In determining student eligibility for 16 to 19 funding, including for Ukrainians aged 16 to 19 living in the UK under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine), institutions must satisfy themselves that there is a reasonable likelihood that the student will be able to complete their study programme before seeking funding for the student. However, when a student applies for a study programme where their current legal permission to remain in the UK expires six months or more after they start, then institutions may allow them to enrol. The department considers it sufficient for institutions to rely on confirmation from the student, and/or family, that they intend to apply for the necessary extension to their permission to remain for the duration of their study programme.The situation is similar for adult learners who wish to undertake courses funded via the Adult Skills Fund. Where the learner’s visa will expire before the end of the course, the provider can use their discretion to fund the learner if, and only if, they have a high degree of certainty that the learner intends to, and will be eligible to, apply to extend their permission to remain for the duration of their study programme. The department would expect that individuals who are not yet eligible to apply for the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme, but intend to apply for it, would be eligible for funding under this rule.

What plans she has to encourage more girls into STEM subjects.

The department is committed to ensuring that anyone, regardless of their gender or background, can pursue an education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The government continues to fund and support the STEM Ambassadors p...

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of language support for refugee children in school whose first language is not English.

It is currently for schools to determine what support provision to put in place for all pupils, including refugees, whose first language is other than English, and who have English language development needs. Schools are able to draw on their overall budg...

What steps she is taking to increase teacher retention.

High quality teaching is the factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s education, which is why we are committed to tackling the crisis in teacher recruitment and retention this government inherited.It is vital to retain our existing teachers t...

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of educational provision for children with Special Educational Needs in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire were inspected by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission in September 2024 and are awaiting their inspection outcome, due to be published mid-November 2024.The department has appointed a special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) adviser...

Whether she has made an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the adequacy of digital skills training for women in rural communities.

Digital skills are crucial to the delivery of all five missions of government, particularly opportunity and growth, providing the pipeline of skilled workers needed to grow the economy.To support the digital skills needs in the country, adults aged 19 and...