Written questions by Hinds.

What estimate she has made of her Department's spending on (a) activities and (b) provision of food during school holidays in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2023-24.

All 153 local authorities are participating in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme supported by over £200 million a year. The HAF programme provides free childcare places, enriching activities and heathy meals to children from low-income families, benefiting their heath, wellbeing and learning.The department knows that the longer school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs, in particular childcare, and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap. Children from disadvantaged families are less likely to access organised out-of-school activities and are more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health, as well as increased likelihood of experiencing social isolation.The HAF programme can offer these children stability, structure and support alongside fun, food and physical activities during the longer school holidays, and can help children to return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn.

What representations he has received on the potential impact of applying VAT to independent school fees on the families of military service personnel.

At the time of writing, the Ministry of Defence has received 45 letters or emails from Members of Parliament and members of the public on this issue. There have been other additional informal approaches which have not been logged centrally.

How many and what proportion of (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) special schools and (d) alternative provision with 40% or more pupils in bands A-F of the income deprivation affecting children index took up the National School Breakfast Club programme in 2023-24.

The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) currently supports up to 2,700 participating schools in disadvantaged areas, meaning that thousands of children from low-income families are being offered free nutritious breakfasts to better support their attainment, wellbeing, and readiness to learn.Information on the number and types of schools, when accounting only for schools with 40% or more pupils in the income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) A to F areas, will be available in due course.

With reference to the NHS England web page entitled Mental health support in schools and colleges, what the roll-out schedule is for mental health support teams.

The Department is working with the Department for Education and NHS England to deliver our commitment of a specialist mental health professional in every school.

With reference to the NHS England web page entitled Mental health support in schools and colleges, what his policy is on the (a) number and (b) types of regions that will be covered by the roll-out of Mental Health Support Teams.

The Department is working with the Department for Education and NHS England to deliver our commitment of a specialist mental health professional in every school.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 4047 on Private Education: Fees and Charges, whether the Tax Information and Impact Note will include estimated effects (a) at January 2025, (b) at September 2025 and (c) over the long term.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. A technical note setting out the details of these two tax policies has been published online here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Draft VAT legislation was also published alongside this technical note, forming a technical consultation, which closed on 15 September. As part of this technical consultation, the Government engaged with a broad range of stakeholders. Whilst developing these policies, the Government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in a Tax Information and Impact Note.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 4047 on Private Education: Fees and Charges, whether she plans to conduct primary research for the Tax Information and Impact Note; and which secondary sources she will use for that Note.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. A technical note setting out the details of these two tax policies has been published online here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Draft VAT legislation was also published alongside this technical note, forming a technical consultation, which closed on 15 September. As part of this technical consultation, the Government engaged with a broad range of stakeholders. Whilst developing these policies, the Government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in a Tax Information and Impact Note.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 4047 on Private Education: Fees and Charges, whether the Tax Information and Impact Note will include a (a) reasonable worst case scenario and (b) central planning estimate.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. A technical note setting out the details of these two tax policies has been published online here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Draft VAT legislation was also published alongside this technical note, forming a technical consultation, which closed on 15 September. As part of this technical consultation, the Government engaged with a broad range of stakeholders. Whilst developing these policies, the Government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in a Tax Information and Impact Note.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 4047 on Private Education: Fees and Charges, whether the Tax Information and Impact Note will differentiate between (a) mainstream and special provision and (b) primary, secondary and sixth form phases.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. A technical note setting out the details of these two tax policies has been published online here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Draft VAT legislation was also published alongside this technical note, forming a technical consultation, which closed on 15 September. As part of this technical consultation, the Government engaged with a broad range of stakeholders. Whilst developing these policies, the Government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in a Tax Information and Impact Note.

Whether her Department is providing the Office for Budget Responsibility with input assumptions on (a) the price elasticity of demand for independent sector education and (b) the number of children likely to move to state sector schools as a result of the imposition of VAT on independent schools.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. The Government will confirm the introduction of these tax policy changes at the Budget on 30 October. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.

Whether she has received representations over the timing of her Department's consultation on Applying VAT to Private School Fees and Removing the Business Rates Charitable Rates Relief for Private Schools.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. This change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Local Authorities (LAs) fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private school. For example, in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT on the fees from HMRC. In Northern Ireland, it will be the Education Authority who fund placements in private schools and will be able to reclaim the VAT. If parents have chosen to pay the fees to place their child in a private school while going through an EHC needs assessment, they will be liable for any fees. As part of the EHC assessment process, the LA will consider what school or college to name on the plan. LAs aim to process all EHCP applications in time for the start of the next school year so that parents can make an informed decision as to which school they send their child to. In certain circumstances, the LA is able to prepay one term’s fees if the EHCP is not yet complete, but the outcome is foreseeable. Likewise, some private schools will forgo the first term’s fees for pupils that are expected to be granted an EHCP in the future. A technical consultation was published on 29 July and remained open until 15 September. This gave schools 6 weeks to prepare a consultation response, including around 2 weeks from the end of the school holidays. It is important that the consultation closed on 15 September to provide enough time to analyse responses and consider any changes to the draft legislation ahead of Budget.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of charging VAT on independent schools on levels of usage of unregistered schools.

​Unregistered schools, by their nature, are unregistered and at risk of being unknown, therefore this is not possible to precisely ascertain. It is an offence under Section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 for any person to conduct an unregistered independent school. Where the department finds evidence that a school is operating unlawfully, we will not hesitate to take action, working with the police, Ofsted and Crown Prosecution Service as necessary.Anyone with intelligence or concerns relating to a potential unregistered independent school should read the department's guidance on reporting an unregistered school. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-an-unregistered-school. Any information they have can be sent to unregisteredschoolreferrals@ofsted.gov.uk.The department has provided additional resources to Ofsted to inspect suspected unregistered independent schools. As a result, a team of dedicated inspectors has been working to identify settings and visit them to determine whether they are operating unlawfully as unregistered independent schools. Where schools are found to be operating unlawfully, Ofsted and DfE are taking action to ensure such settings cease operating unlawfully, working with other authorities as necessary.

If she will take steps to exempt pupils awaiting an Education Health and Care Plan from the introduction of VAT on independent school fees.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. This change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Local Authorities (LAs) fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private school. For example, in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT on the fees from HMRC. In Northern Ireland, it will be the Education Authority who fund placements in private schools and will be able to reclaim the VAT. If parents have chosen to pay the fees to place their child in a private school while going through an EHC needs assessment, they will be liable for any fees. As part of the EHC assessment process, the LA will consider what school or college to name on the plan. LAs aim to process all EHCP applications in time for the start of the next school year so that parents can make an informed decision as to which school they send their child to. In certain circumstances, the LA is able to prepay one term’s fees if the EHCP is not yet complete, but the outcome is foreseeable. Likewise, some private schools will forgo the first term’s fees for pupils that are expected to be granted an EHCP in the future. A technical consultation was published on 29 July and remained open until 15 September. This gave schools 6 weeks to prepare a consultation response, including around 2 weeks from the end of the school holidays. It is important that the consultation closed on 15 September to provide enough time to analyse responses and consider any changes to the draft legislation ahead of Budget.

Whether she is making additional resources available to accommodate changes in the number of Education Health and Care Plan applications (a) this and (b) next financial year.

The department is aware not only of the financial pressures that local authorities are facing due to the increasing cost of supporting children and young people with education, health and care (EHC) plans, but also the pressures that the government as a whole is facing because of the financial situation we have inherited. The department is acting as quickly as possible to respond to these cost pressures. The department is providing schools with almost £1.1 billion in the 2024/25 financial year through the new Core Schools Budget Grant (CSBG), to support with overall costs, including support for young people with EHC plans. Of this total, special schools and alternative provision settings will be receiving over £140 million through the CSBG. The additional funding through the CSBG comes alongside high needs funding for children and young people with complex needs, which totals over £10.75 billion in 2024/25. Decisions on future funding levels will be for the Spending Review.

Whether she plans to continue to report on the (a) outputs of the Teacher Workforce Model and (b) extent to which targets are met.

The department uses the Teacher Workforce Model to calculate postgraduate initial teacher trainee targets each year. These targets are published online each year as part of an official statistics publication, the department intends to publish the 2025/26 academic year targets as usual.Performance against the published initial teacher training (ITT) recruitment targets is reported within the ITT census official statistics publication. The next publication will be reporting against the 2024/25 academic year targets and has been pre-announced for December this year. The precise date of publication will be announced nearer the time. Being an established official statistics publication, the department intends to continue publication of performance against ITT recruitment targets.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the imposition of VAT on independent school fees on the number of children who are home schooled.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. The Government does not expect fees to go up by 20% as a result of this policy change, and the Government expects private schools to take steps to minimise fee increases. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.

How many children of secondary school age are (a) resident and (b) on roll at state secondary schools in (i) Yorkshire & the Humber; (ii) York Local Authority and (iii) secondary planning area 8169997; and how many places are unfilled in state secondary schools in those areas.

The department does not hold information on all children and young people by residence.Information on unfilled state secondary school places, as at May 2023, is published in the School Capacity statistics publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. This is available at region and local authority level here for Yorkshire and the Humber and York: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/2e5181ea-f132-48f7-b23f-08dccd7b0275. School level information is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/5f26c269-bf72-41ab-8292-e17b58ed7c98 and can be aggregated to planning area level.This publication also contains information on the number of pupils on roll as at May 2023, to allow comparisons with data on unfilled places, however this is not the latest data for numbers on roll. The latest published data on secondary age pupils on roll in state funded secondary schools is for January 2024 and is published in the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. This is available at a region and local authority level here Yorkshire and the Humber and York: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/ebafa0ad-e0a7-44ee-e0d3-08dccd7b577b. School level information is also available here: https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/releases/6a45c262-aaca-4bda-a548-cc9d1dc63137/files/6a137329-83ce-4e2e-8043-1f15ab5c7101 and can be aggregated to planning area level.For secondary planning area 8169997, there were 4,921 secondary pupils on roll in May 2023, with 259 secondary school places unfilled (5.9%). In January 2024, there were 4,370 pupils on roll.

Whether she has made an estimate of the maximum number of pupils that could move from independent to state schools for there to be a net increase in revenues to the Exchequer arising from her policy on levying VAT on independent school fees.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Specialist Post-16 Institutions (SPIs) offer a unique mix of education, health, and social care services. The Treasury is working with the Department for Education and the SPI sector to establish the future VAT treatment of these institutions. This will be communicated when the Government confirms the introduction of this policy at Budget. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.

Whether specialist post-16 institutions will be exempt from VAT.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Specialist Post-16 Institutions (SPIs) offer a unique mix of education, health, and social care services. The Treasury is working with the Department for Education and the SPI sector to establish the future VAT treatment of these institutions. This will be communicated when the Government confirms the introduction of this policy at Budget. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget in the usual way.

How many (a) children of secondary school age are resident, (b) children are on roll at state secondary schools and (c) places are unfilled in state secondary schools in (i) the South West, (ii) the local authority area of Bristol City Council, (iii) secondary planning area 8010015, (iv) secondary planning area 8010016 and (v) secondary planning area 8010017.

The department does not hold information on all children and young people by residence.Information on unfilled state secondary school places, as at May 2023, is published in the School Capacity statistics publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity. This is available at region and local authority level here for the South West and City of Bristol: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/f8c9439a-21b9-4c4b-e0d7-08dccd7b577b. School level information is also available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-catalogue/data-set/5f26c269-bf72-41ab-8292-e17b58ed7c98 and can be aggregated to planning area level.This publication also contains information on the number of pupils on roll as at May 2023 to allow comparisons with data on unfilled places. However, this is not the latest data for numbers on roll. The latest published data on secondary age pupils on roll in state-funded secondary schools is for January 2024 and is published in the Schools, pupils and their characteristics publication, which can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics. This is available at a region and local authority level here for the South West and City of Bristol: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/b2d9d5ee-2876-47a6-b242-08dccd7b0275. School level information is also available here: https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/releases/6a45c262-aaca-4bda-a548-cc9d1dc63137/files/6a137329-83ce-4e2e-8043-1f15ab5c7101 and can be aggregated to planning area level.For secondary planning area 8010015, there were 4,391 secondary pupils on roll in May 2023, with zero secondary school places unfilled. In January 2024, there were 4,342 pupils on roll.For secondary planning area 8010016, there were 12,960 secondary pupils on roll in May 2023, with 460 secondary school places unfilled (3.6%). In January 2024, there were 13,236 pupils on roll.For secondary planning area 8010017, there were 7,563 secondary pupils on roll in May 2023, with 760 secondary school places unfilled (10.2%). In January 2024, there were 7,754 pupils on roll.