Speeches by Brackenridge.

“I would like to consider funding and finance now. The notional £6,000 threshold for SEN support has not been lifted for over 10 years since its introduction, yet we have seen significant increases in demand and rising costs for support services. Do you believe that the level of funding remains sufficient and is it sust…”

“We have also heard, as a Committee, a suggestion to ringfence SEN funding so that it can only be spent on SEN funding. Has the Department looked into this to ensure that schools are accountable for how this funding is used?”

“The notional £6,000 threshold for SEN support.”

“I think I heard that you recognise the importance of prioritising SEND, and better SEND training, at all levels within schools. I heard about initial teacher training, early careers teachers, more established, experienced teachers, as well as teaching assistants, so all school staff. I am going to move on to an importa…”

“Statutory support should not depend on medical assessment and diagnosis, but the reality is that for a number of reasons, children are not getting the support that they need and are having to wait for that assessment and diagnosis. Can you talk me through the actions that you will be taking to prevent this?”

“Minister, access to statutory support at this time depends on medical assessment and diagnosis when it should not, but in practice—in reality—there are far too many young people who are having to wait for assessment and diagnosis rather than having the support that they need early on. Why has this happened and what act…”

“Under the old guard of the Conservatives, families had to earn less than £7,400, often in low-paid and insecure work, to qualify for free school meals. Under this Labour Government, thousands more children in Wolverhampton North East and 500,000 more across the country will benefit from free school meals. Will the Depu…”

“Finally, what is your assessment of bringing in a version of the pupil premium—a post-16 student premium that is comparable to what we have lower down in school—to help with better provision for disadvantaged young people?”

“I will drill down a little deeper into recruitment and retention. I welcome the answers you have both given regarding the pay disparity, but the simple fact of a £9,000 difference between a college lecturer and a school teacher teaching the equivalent subject and syllabus is contributing to the recruitment and retentio…”

“I really welcome your comment earlier, Baroness Smith, about the skills strategy being front and centre and right at the very top of our Government’s Plan for Change. The Government are being very honest that the country “faces a long list of skills challenges”, including “a fragmented and confusing skills landscape th…”

“The only thing I would say is please bear in mind the need to upskill existing staff as well.”

“The Government’s youth guarantee to ensure that all 18 to 21-year-olds are earning or learning has been broadly welcomed by the sector, but we have heard that its provisions and entitlements should be extended beyond the 18-to-21 age group. What is your view? What measures are you taking to support people of all ages w…”

“Businesses will be able to decide whether their adult apprentices aged 19 or over without a GCSE pass are required to study maths and English to complete their apprenticeships. We know that having a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy helps people of all ages to progress with their learning and supports them in …”

“Do you have the same plans to scrap maths and English requirements for younger apprentices?”

“It is widely accepted that the evidence is clear that economically disadvantaged young people do not perform as well as their peers throughout education, including at FE. What interventions are you making to support disadvantaged students, particularly in FE, and to narrow the attainment gap?”

“I start by paying tribute to all those who work with our children and young people, be it in our nurseries, schools, colleges or universities. As the Member for Wolverhampton North East, a member of the Education Committee and a former deputy headteacher, I want to speak frankly about the urgent need for education spen…”

“Although I cannot speak to the hon. Member’s local issues, I welcome the curriculum and assessment review, which will certainly look to change the one-size-fits-all model. I welcome several commitments in this year’s main estimates, particularly the announcement that households receiving universal credit will be eligib…”

“Austerity hit access to swimming lessons, as evidenced by the fact that 35% of children from low-income families are able to swim 25 metres unaided compared with 82% from affluent families. Does my hon. Friend agree with me that mandatory requirements for swimming and water safety should be in the national curriculum f…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Lewell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Andrew Ranger) for securing this important debate. I have seen at first hand the decimation of good careers, education, work experience and guidance in our schools. The link between strong careers, education and so…”

“I attended the New Park Village end-of-season football awards—a fantastic celebration of local talent with hundreds of girls, boys and young people. Will the Leader of the House join me in thanking Joe Jackson, who for over 28 years has led community football and truly transformed lives, and everyone who supports the N…”