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7 July 2008 : Column 1398W—continued
At a National level, the DCSF is investigating the quality of matching data on looked-after children to the National Pupil Database (NPD), which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people.
We are determined to do more to improve the education of looked-after children. Raising their attainment is key to improving their life chances and ensuring a successful transition to adulthood. We have set out our intentions in the White Paper “Care Matters: Time for Change” and its implementation plan “Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care” published by the Government, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS).
Children in Care: General Certificate of Secondary Education
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire were entered for (a) no, (b) one, (c) two, (d) three, (e) four and (f) five GCSEs in each of the last five years; [215804]
(2) what percentage of looked-after children in Staffordshire achieved five or more GCSEs at grade C or above in each of the last five years. [215805]
Kevin Brennan: Data collected since 2000 and published in “Outcome Indicators for Looked After Children Twelve months to 30 September”, show the GCSE performance or equivalents of children who were looked after for at least 12 months. The available information for Staffordshire local authority is shown in the following table.
We do not collect information about the numbers of looked-after children according to how many GCSEs they were entered for. However, these data are available at a local level enabling local authorities to set targets for the attainment of looked-after children at key stage four. These targets are negotiated with the National Strategies and Government Offices and form a statutory part of a local authority's local area agreement.
At a National level the DCSF is investigating the quality of matching data on looked-after children to the national pupil database (NPD), which provides a wide range of data on the educational attainment of children and young people.
We are determined to do more and improving the education of looked-after children is a top priority. It is key to improving their life chances and a successful transition to adulthood. We have set out our intentions in “Care Matters: Time for Change” and the implementation plan “Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care” published by the Government with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
Children: HIV Infection
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue guidance to (a) schools and (b) local authorities on managing the special needs of HIV positive children in (i) education and (ii) local authority care. [215435]
Kevin Brennan: We have no plans to issue specific guidance to schools and local authorities on managing the special needs of HIV positive children in education and local authority care.
In 2005, this Department, jointly with the Department of Health, published guidance for schools and local authorities entitled “Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings”. Although not specific to managing the needs of HIV positive children, the guide recommends that while children with medical needs can attend schools regularly and take part in normal activities, school staff may need to take extra care to ensure that those children and others are not put at risk.
It is for local authorities, schools and governing bodies to work out their own policies on supporting children with medical needs, in the light of statutory responsibilities and their own local requirements.
Children: Sports
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of levels of sporting participation by children in inner London; and if he will make a statement. [216477]
Kevin Brennan: The annual school sport survey found that in 2006-07, 85 per cent. of five-16 year olds in inner London boroughs were participating in at least two hours high quality PE and school sport a week, up from 64 per cent. in 2004-05.
New opportunities for children and young people to participate in PE and sport are being created through the PE and Sport Strategy. The strategy aims to offer young people, aged five to 16 years, five hours of sport a week and three hours for young people aged 16-19 years.
Children’s Centres: Staffordshire
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children’s centres there are in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire. [215826]
Beverley Hughes: There are currently four designated Sure Start children’s centres in Tamworth offering services to approximately 4,000 children under five and their families. There are a total of 38 children’s centres in Staffordshire, offering services to approximately 35,000 children.
Local authorities are currently planning the final phase of the roll-out of children’s centres so that by 2010 there will be a children’s centre for every community. Staffordshire has been given an indicative number of a further 15 centres required to reach all remaining under fives in the county. This figure is subject to confirmation following planning discussions between the focal authority and the Department’s delivery partner, Together for Children.
Children’s Fund
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of expenditure from the Children’s Fund has been incurred by community and voluntary groups in (a) the London Borough of Enfield, (b) Greater London and (c) England and Wales in each year since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [216557]
Beverley Hughes: The Children’s Fund allocations for Enfield, Greater London and England for each year since its inception are as follows:
| Children’s Fund allocations | |||
| £ | |||
| Enfield | All London boroughs | England | |
Expenditure information for these years (which in some cases varies significantly) is not readily available. Administration costs of the Children’s Fund Partnerships made up an average of approximately 12 per cent. of the funding allocation in each year with the remaining balance being used mainly to fund community and voluntary groups.
Cowes High School
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to make a funding allocation through the Building Schools for the Future programme for the rebuilding of Cowes High School on the Isle of Wight; and to which organisation such an allocation will be made. [216184]
Jim Knight: A funding allocation for the rebuilding of Cowes High School was made to Isle of Wright council, through the Building Schools for the Future One-School Pathfinder programme, in January 2007. The full allocation is £32 million and the first payment was made through the standards fund in May 2007.
Departmental ICT
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the value of his Department's computer systems (a) was at the time of purchase and (b) is now. [214666]
Kevin Brennan: The purchase value of the computer systems being used by the Department is £14,157,360 and their value at 31 March 2008 was £7,947,765.
The Department’s fixed asset accounting policy is consistent with the FReM.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what IT contracts his Departments has entered into in the last two years. [215121]
Kevin Brennan: The information as requested is not readily available centrally within the Department for Children, Schools and Families. To respond fully would involve an extensive internal information collection exercise which would exceed the recommended disproportionate cost threshold.
Departmental Pay
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by (a) permanent and (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band. [212492]
Kevin Brennan: Figures are detailed in the following tables for grades 6 and below. The figures do not reflect the senior civil service, where it is not possible to calculate an hourly rate, given their contracts of employment set an expected minimum number of hours and the requirement to work additional hours for the performance of their duties.
Temporary refers to staff employed by the Department on short term contracts and therefore excludes agency workers who are not employees of the Department.
| National | ||
| £ | ||
| Grade | Permanent hourly rate | Temporary hourly rate |
| London | ||
| £ | ||
| Grade | Permanent hourly rate | Temporary hourly rate |
| ‘—’ = No temporary staff in specialist grades therefore these are not reflected in the information provided. | ||
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