Speeches by Sewards.

“The Department for Education introduced guidance on “Working together to improve school attendance”, and it was initially non-statutory when it was introduced. A previous iteration of this Committee heard mixed evidence on how effective that guidance was. However, that Committee still recommended that the guidance be m…”

“That is very useful. Thank you.”

“You will have heard me asking the last panel about the now statutory guidance, “Working together to improve school attendance”. What is your view of that guidance? Should any changes be made? I will start with Dan, for obvious reasons.”

“That is incredibly pleasing to hear. Any further contributions?”

“The Department for Education introduced guidance on “Working together to improve school attendance”, and it was initially non-statutory when it was introduced. A previous iteration of this Committee heard mixed evidence on how effective that guidance was. However, that Committee still recommended that the guidance be m…”

“That is very useful. Thank you.”

“Absolutely. I know that the LGA did some research on this before it became statutory, and it found that 68% of councils actually increased their cost as result of the non-statutory guidance. Is there the money to pay for it now that it is statutory?”

“Very good. Any further answers?”

“Is the expansion of free school meals and the introduction of breakfast clubs likely to have any impact on attendance from low-income families?”

“Absolutely. I know that the LGA did some research on this before it became statutory, and it found that 68% of councils actually increased their cost as result of the non-statutory guidance. Is there the money to pay for it now that it is statutory?”

“Those are very helpful suggestions—thank you.”

“Last Friday, I met business owners who operate in Morley Bottoms and who have managed to turn one of the most undesirable parts of our town into one of the destinations that people travel into Morley to experience. Madam Deputy Speaker, you have an invitation to come along and join me any time, as does the Leader of th…”

“I think James Frith has made most of my points about private investments, so I will limit myself to one question, although Minister McKinnell, I will just say that if you want to see good practice of how teachers and local organisations work together to deliver sport in a city, you can do no worse than look at Leeds Sc…”

“Brilliant. Thank you.”

“Minister Peacock, with the short time that we have left, please can you tell us what you plan to do to incentivise the number of volunteers to go up in grassroots sport?”

“Absolutely. It is sometimes easy to get a sense that that feeling of community is being lost in some of our constituencies, but where that is not the case, in Leeds South West and Morley, it is with my grassroots sports clubs. They have become the centres of my different communities right across the constituency. I app…”

“That is correct. You would encourage local councils to look at these things?”

“I am pleased to have contributed to this report as a member of the Education Committee, which is excellently led by my hon. Friend the Member for Dulwich and West Norwood (Helen Hayes). I also thank the Clerks and staff for all their work on the Committee. It is good that the report has been welcomed by the Centre for …”

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this incredibly important debate. In my eight and a half years as a maths teacher, teaching in inner city schools, I found that the problem was never just about a lack of aspiration but about a lack of access and a lack of knowledge; that goes for any group, not just for boys. …”

“I warmly welcome today’s announcement. Sure Start was one of the greatest achievements of the last Labour Government, and these Best Start family hubs will build on that. As a member of the Education Committee, we have heard evidence that Sure Start was at its best when it was targeted and specific. Will the Secretary …”