Speeches by Paffey.

“You have started to answer my next question actually. What practical changes at local or national level do we need to see that would make the greatest difference to improving that collaboration that we have said is so necessary across early years and children’s support services? In particular—Dr Callan, you started to …”

“I am interested in what role high-quality early years provision plays in improving outcomes for children who come from disadvantaged families. We have started to stray on to that question, but this is an opportunity to say more on the evidence. What more can be done to ensure that children from those backgrounds have a…”

“Thinking about different interventions that these policies lead to, we know that Best Start family hubs are designed to bring that joined up, effective and, importantly, accessible support for families in the early years. Dr Callan, in your view, what are the core services that the Best Start family hubs have to delive…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham) for securing a debate on this important issue. Ports handle 95% of Britain’s physical trade; sea freight accounts for the majority of the UK’s international freight but, as we have heard,…”

“I have one more question on wider child safeguarding practice before we move on. Following the convictions in the Preston Davey case, what action is Ofsted going to take to help ensure that safeguarding failures such as that cannot happen again?”

“This might be a quick answer, but are you confident that you have the requisite resources to execute the new powers that you have received?”

“Sir Martyn, you had concerns about merging behaviour and attendance in the framework. You said it bothered you tremendously. We then had the consultation, and that has now changed. What impacts have you seen so far of bringing together behaviour and attendance into a single section of the inspection?”

“You mentioned a few examples there: a third of schools are coming in at the strong category on those. Are you able to say what proportion of schools—ballpark figure or otherwise—might have good behaviour but poor attendance records? Equally, how many might have poor behaviour but good attendance? Are you monitoring tha…”

“It is helpful to get a sense of what is changing. There have been government changes in terms of your role around inspecting FE and skills; obviously Skills England, apprenticeships, adult further education and training have gone from DfE into the Department for Work and Pensions. What has had to change around your ins…”

“So there has been very little change?”

“I appreciate that. We are certainly in the business of things that do not change overnight, so I do understand that. I appreciate what you have said about the different efforts that are being made. Our predecessor Committee said that there needed to be improved engagement during inspections, as long as—and we will all …”

“I would like to hear your response to Sir Michael Wilshaw, the former HMCI, and Victor Shafiee, the former head of Ofsted’s illegal schools team, that—in their view—illegal schools have been deprioritised and given less funding during your time as Chief Inspector. How would you respond to what they are suggesting there…”

“Turning now to children’s social care, Sir Martyn, last time you were before the Committee you were very critical of unregistered children’s homes. Has the new inspection framework that was introduced in April this year had an impact yet and are you satisfied with that impact?”

“Are you confident about that?”

“Ofsted expressed concern that the Bill did not go as far as it had perhaps hoped in relation to children’s social care and unregistered schools. Do those concerns remain?”

“We have had separate discussions in the APPG for care-experienced young people around unregistered children’s homes. Obviously, something that comes up is the amount of time it takes to register them. Is there anything you would say about what is happening or what needs to happen to ensure we can get to a place where t…”

“I realise we are running out of time, but I just have a couple of quick questions on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 as it now is. That gives you additional powers across a range of areas including inspecting academy trusts. Can you outline the steps being taken to act on those new powers?”

“We would be grateful to receive that as written evidence, thank you. Moving on to think about parental engagement with the inspection process and their understanding of what the changes are. How are you assessing that parents and the wider public understand the new inspection framework and the grading judgments that yo…”

“So there is ad hoc ongoing work, but the Home Office is not co-owning the strategy.”

“Our inquiry looked at the financial solvency of universities, and particularly international students. We recommended that the Home Office become the co-owner of the Government’s international education strategy. Has it agreed to do that, and what is the nature of your joint working with it at the moment?”