Speeches by Paffey.

“Do you think that there are improvements that are needed so that local authorities have the tools, the capacity and the authority they need to oversee and intervene where necessary in safeguarding matters within early years provision?”

“This question will be for Mike, Claire and Clare: from a provider perspective, what are your views on the role that Ofsted currently plays in ensuring accountability in the early years sector? In addition to your current views on it, are there any improvements that you think need to be made to the inspection or regulat…”

“My next question is to Ann Graham around local authorities. Where does accountability for safeguarding in early years provision sit within local authorities? How is that accountability exercised in practice?”

“Consistently wrong, and they have made a consistent and desperate attempt to be divisive. They are trying to split the country into those who pay tax and those who receive welfare. These generalisations around the “deserving” and the “undeserving” poor are not only crass but factually wrong. Many contribute through wor…”

“Professor Ricketts, given that we know reading for pleasure drops off at secondary school age, what should secondary schools do to rekindle that passion for reading effectively?”

“I thank my hon. Friend for making that salient point, and I will come to that wider package of measures. Of course, we have heard straw-man arguments, saying, “Well, this one thing will not solve child poverty.” No one is claiming that it will solve child poverty; it is one piece in the jigsaw of the wider work that th…”

“I am proud to support the Bill and do so with the families of Southampton firmly in mind. Those are families who fell foul of the last Conservative Government’s mission to make Britain Dickensian again. Child deprivation in my city is among the worst in the country—worse than more than 83% of local authorities. Here, t…”

“One or two of you mentioned in the initial answers that there is evidence of reading developing emotional strength and development and so on. We have seen some evidence specifically around the development of empathy that comes through reading. According to the evidence, what is it about reading that helps children deve…”

“I might have phrased it wrongly. It is more that they will be developing them in all these contexts. Is there one in which you see accelerated development rather than others?”

“Would others like to add anything to that? If not, I have a follow-up question.”

“That is great. Thank you.”

“I think we will have to move on.”

“I will move on to think about best practice in early years settings and schools. My initial question is to Dr Hendry. Based on what we know about young children’s development in particular, what does best practice look like in early years’ settings so that they develop not just the habit of reading but of becoming a re…”

“On that point, would you say that at the moment the early years workforce in the country has the right knowledge and training to be able to deliver those approaches?”

“Good morning. There is a clear long list of wide-ranging desirable benefits. What is it specifically about reading that secures those benefits as compared to other activities that children might be doing: social interaction, playing games, being with friends and family, physical activity, even watching TV and so on? Dr…”

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on his statement and thank him for it. Like thousands of long-suffering leaseholders across Southampton Itchen, I warmly welcome this announcement. Residents of the Sapphire Court development have already been paying ground rent that is higher than the cap, and there is a plan to double it…”

“7. What steps she is taking to ensure that families of children with SEND have early access to support.”

“We all know that early support for children with SEND depends on getting the co-ordination right among parents, schools, local authorities and the NHS, but we also know that is not always happening. Some of the children I have been supporting in Southampton Itchen are spending months out of education and taking years s…”

“We all know that we are where we are precisely because of the disastrous legacy that we were left by the Conservatives, who made unfunded promise after unfunded promise. I welcome the Minister’s reassurance about transitional relief and the caps on the increases, but cafés and small hospitality businesses in Southampto…”

“A couple of you mentioned what needs to happen or what we have to ensure is the case at the end—I do not imagine there will ever be an end to this, but certainly the end of this concerted effort to recruit. Would any of you like to share any thoughts on the progress so far on that and whether you are convinced that thi…”