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22 Jun 2005 : Column 1049W—continued
Education Maintenance Allowance
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Torbay (Mr. Sanders) of 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 336–39W, on grants per pupil, what the figures are for 2005–06. [6354]
Jacqui Smith: The following table gives our most recent figures, for local education authorities in England in 2005–06, for the total funding per primary pupil (aged 3–10) and per secondary pupil (aged 11–15) in cash terms. These funding figures include funding through Education Formula Spending and grants allocated at an LEA level; they include the pensions transfer to EFS.
Notes:
1. Price Base: Cash terms.
2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of the Education Formula Spending settlement and include the pensions transfer to EFS.
3. Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15, and exclude education maintenance allowances and grants not allocated at LEA level. For those LEAs in receipt of advance of grant under the transitional support arrangements for 2004–05, advance grant funding was included in the year of payment (2004–05). There will be a consequential reduction in DfES grant for these LEAs in future years (either 2006–07 and 2007–08 or 2006–07 to 2008–09, depending on the terms on which the advance was given to the LEA).
4. The pupil numbers used to convert £m figures to per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.
5. Rounding: Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
6. Status: 2005–06 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.
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Entry to Employment Programme
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what alternative education and training provision has been found for young people who are not yet ready to start an apprenticeship following the changes to the Entry to Employment programme; and what evaluation has been made of (a) the appropriateness of such provision and (b) its likelihood of offering meaningful progression to disadvantaged young people. [6512]
Jacqui Smith: Entry to Employment (E2E) is the main programme for young people not yet ready for an apprenticeship. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) guarantees all young people for whom E2E is appropriate, a place on the programme. This is in addition to their commitment that every 16–18 year old can have a place in post-16 education and training. Changes introduced in 2004/05 were to improve the referral and learner review processes.
Some young people are not in a position to be able to benefit from E2E. This may be, for example, because of emotional difficulties and serious substance abuse. These young people receive a range of specialised support and provision, particularly from the voluntary and community sector providers. This type of provision is not formally evaluated, however the aim is to enable them to progress onto E2E.
The Qualifications Curriculum Authority and the LSC are working to establish an inclusive curriculum offer below level 2. It will draw from units and/or qualifications at entry level and level 1 of the Framework for Achievement and will also recognise and incorporate broader aspects. This is an important
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development to support, facilitate and direct learners into units and/or qualifications both below and beyond level 2, where E2E is not the best option.
The local LSC network is working closely with the Connexions Service and the providers it contracts with, to ensure that it has appropriate programmes to enhance the range of choices to engage all young people. The Government announced, in the recent budget, plans to pilot Activity Agreements and an Activity Allowance to help re-engage 16–17 year olds who have been out of education, employment or training for some time.
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