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15 July 2009 : Column 468W—continued
National Curriculum Tests
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what meetings he has had in the last 12 months on the proposal to move Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests to June; and who was present at each meeting. [286082]
Mr. Coaker: The Expert Group on Assessment consulted widely before publishing its recommendations, including the proposal to move Key Stage National Curriculum tests to June. The Department has accepted the group's recommendations in full. Ministers have met regularly with officials to discuss the group's proposals, including the recommendation to move Key Stage 2 National Curriculum test dates to June.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whom he consulted on proposals to change the announced dates for Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests. [286084]
Mr. Coaker: The Expert Group on Assessment consulted widely before publishing its recommendations, including the proposal to move key stage national curriculum tests to June. The Department has accepted the group's recommendations in full.
Having taken account of advice from the Qualification and Standards Authority (QCA) and the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), tests in 2010 will take place as planned in the week commencing 10 May. We will seek to implement the expert group's recommendation on moving the test to mid June in 2011; this will help to strengthen transition arrangements for year 6 pupils; it will also help to embed our Assessment for Learning strategy and the role of teacher assessment.
National Curriculum Tests: Public Consultation
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) if he will hold a public consultation on (a) the proposals in the report recently produced by the Expert Group on Assessment and (b) the proposal to move Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests to June; [285909]
(2) whom he has consulted on his Department's proposal to hold Key Stage 2 standard assessment tests in June. [285911]
Mr. Coaker: The Expert Group on Assessment consulted widely before publishing its recommendations, including the proposal to move Key Stage National Curriculum tests to June. The Department has accepted the group's recommendations in full.
Having taken account of advice from the Qualification and Standards Authority (QCA) and the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual), tests in 2010 will take place as planned in the week commencing 10 May. We will seek to implement the Expert Group's recommendation on moving the test to mid June in 2011; this will help to strengthen transition arrangements for year 6 pupils; it will also help to embed our Assessment for Learning strategy and the role of teacher assessment.
Ofsted: Manpower
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Ofsted inspectors of children's services have degrees in social work. [282646]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 26 June 2009]: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 9 July 2009:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
Information relating to the academic level of qualifications held by inspectors was not provided to Ofsted when social care inspectors transferred from the Commission for Social Care Inspection in April 2007. As of 26 June 2009, Ofsted employs 44 Her Majesty's Inspectors (HMI) with a social care background, who manage and undertake inspections of local authority children's services. Ofsted also employs 149 social care inspectors, who regulate and inspect a range of social care providers, such as residential homes, fostering and adoption agencies.
Of the 44 HMI, 42 hold a social work qualification recognised by the General Social Care Council, the qualification required for social work practice. These qualifications were awarded at different academic levels depending on the course attended (from the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work to a Masters degree) but all hold the same professional status. The requirement to hold a degree as the minimum level of social work qualification was only introduced in 2003. One HMI holds a residential work qualification which is not recognised as a social work qualification.
The 149 social care inspectors hold a variety of social work, social care and related qualifications and had considerable experience in providing children's social care services prior to joining Ofsted.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
Play: Finance
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding each local authority in Greater Manchester awarded funding under the National Play Strategy in December 2008 has received to date; and how much on average each local authority in England was awarded under the National Play Strategy in December 2008. [285380]
Mr. Coaker:
Following the commitments made in the Children's Plan in 2007 and the national Play Strategy in 2008, every top-tier local authority in England will
receive either play pathfinder or playbuilder funding between 2008-11 through the play capital investment programme.
Of the 152 top-tier local authorities, 30 are play pathfinder authorities and the remaining 122 local authorities are all playbuilder authorities. On average, every play pathfinder authority will receive around £2 million capital funding and £500,000 revenue funding, while playbuilder authorities will receive around £1 million capital and £45,000 revenue funding, over the current spending period 2008-09 to 2010-11. Play pathfinder authorities will use their allocated funding to deliver a minimum of 28 play areas plus a new staffed adventure playground, while playbuilder authorities will deliver a minimum of 22 play areas by 2011. The play areas that are delivered can be either completely new areas or existing areas which are significantly refurbished.
Local authorities have joined the programme, and so started receiving their funding, in two phases: wave 1 started in April 2008 and wave 2 in April 2009. Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Tameside are all wave 1 authorities, while the other six authorities in the Greater Manchester area (City of Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan) joined the programme in April 2009. Of these, 10 local authorities, both Rochdale and Wigan are play pathfinders, while the others are all playbuilder authorities.
The following tables show the capital and revenue funding allocated to Greater Manchester authorities and the phase they each joined the capital play programme. Allocations for 2010-11 are indicative and will be confirmed in February 2010.
Decisions on where the capital funding is spent within local authority boundaries are taken locally, based on grant requirements around improved play spaces being provided where they are most needed and based on a robust consultation process with local children and young people, families and wider communities.
We are encouraging all Members of Parliament to proactively engage with their local play capital programmes as they roll out, and we are asking local authorities to ensure that their local Members of Parliament and council elected members are appropriately consulted, and briefed, about where the capital funding is spent.
| Wave 1 authorities | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Capital funding | Revenue funding | |||||
| Local authority | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
| (1) Wave 1 play pathfinder authorities receive capital funding in 2008-09 and 2009-10 only. | ||||||
| Wave 2 authorities | ||||
| £ | ||||
| Capital funding | Revenue funding | |||
| Local authority | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Playgrounds: Hertfordshire
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding his Department has provided for the enhancement of public play facilities in (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency, (b) Dacorum and (c) Hertfordshire in the last 12 months. [284738]
Dawn Primarolo: Following the commitments made in the Children's Plan in 2007 and the national Play strategy in 2008, every top tier local authority in England will receive either play pathfinder or playbuilder funding between 2008-11 through the play capital investment programme.
On average all play pathfinder authorities will receive around £2 million capital funding and £500,000 revenue funding, while playbuilder authorities will receive around £1 million capital and £45,000 revenue funding. Play pathfinder authorities will use their allocated funding to deliver a minimum of 28 play areas plus a new staffed adventure playground, while playbuilder authorities will deliver a minimum of 22 play areas by 2011. The play areas that are delivered can be either completely new areas or existing areas which are significantly refurbished.
Local authorities have joined the programme, and so started receiving their funding, in two phases: Wave 1 started in April 2008 and Wave 2 in April 2009. Hertfordshire is a Wave 2 playbuilder authority and will receive capital funding of £541,001 in 2009-10 and £609,820 in 2010-11 and revenue funding of £27,633 in 2009-10 and £18,422 in 2010-11. Allocations for 2010-11 are indicative and will be confirmed in February 2010.
Decisions on where the capital funding is spent within local authority boundaries are taken locally, based on grant requirements around improved play spaces being provided where they are most needed and based on a robust consultation process with local children and young people, families and wider communities.
We are encouraging all members of parliament to proactively engage with their local play capital programmes as they roll out, and we are asking local authorities to ensure that their local members of parliament and council elected members are appropriately consulted, and briefed, about where the capital funding is spent.
Primary Education: Finance
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funds have been allocated to the Primary Capital Programme for the financial year (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. [286799]
Mr. Coaker:
Taking into account the adjustments made following requests by some local authorities to bring forward funding in support of the Government's
fiscal stimulus measures, the breakdown of funding allocated to support delivery of the programme nationally is:
(a) 2009-10: £757 million;
(b) 2010-11: £893 million.
Qualification: Social Work
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the grade is of the most senior member of staff at Ofsted with a qualification in social work. [284448]
Dawn Primarolo: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 9 July 2009:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
The grade of the most senior members of staff at Ofsted to hold a qualification in social work is Deputy Director, equivalent to senior civil service (SCS) pay band 1. Two individuals hold posts at this grade.
As part of internal restructuring announced last September, Ofsted is currently recruiting a Director, Development (Social Care). She or he is required to hold a professional qualification in social work and to demonstrate 'relevant knowledge and experience as a senior manager of social work and child protection services'.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
Rehabilitation: Lincolnshire
Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2009, Official Report, columns 1069-70W, and 1434W, on rehabilitation: Lincolnshire, where the 35 residential places are located. [284146]
Dawn Primarolo: The available beds, along with details of the support offered, are set out in the following table. These places represent only a small part of residential provision that can be accessed for young people with complex needs, where substance misuse is one factor. Local authority commissioners also meet young people's needs through a combination of fostering or children's home placements and specialist substance misuse community based services. This will often allow young people to be supported in an environment closer to their own community.
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