Speeches by Swallow.

“Do you see that changing? In the future will you be inspecting against it?”

“Local authority colleagues would also highlight that often it is levied against the local authority and not the health system. I am getting way beyond the question I wanted to ask, which was actually to go back to the answer around inspecting EHCPs. The Government have said that Ofsted will have a role in assessing the…”

“I really appreciate that answer but if I were a school leader listening to the response to my question, I would find myself scratching my head and failing to understand whether I am going to be inspected against the enrichment framework or not from September.”

“I totally understand. We have heard from Professor Julia Waters, Ruth Perry’s sister, that at least 10 headteachers have reported to her feeling suicidal following inspections from Ofsted conducted under the new framework. You paused inspections in 2024 while training on mental health was delivered to inspectors. What …”

“Also children of Armed Forces families. I am from a community that has a significant number of those.”

“A slight tangent but very brief answer if you may because I do not want to take up too much time. On those area SEND inspections, transparently my local area has not done too well recently and requires improvement so should be inspected again within 12 months. I understand that there have been a lot of delays in terms …”

“You mentioned some changes around allowing school leaders to identify when they have concerns about an inspection but also introducing support for inspectors to report concerns around wellbeing. I have to say, speaking to school leaders in my constituency, they totally recognise—as you have said—that there is much more…”

“During our SEND inquiry, we received lots of evidence supporting an inclusion clause and it is great to see it as part of the new framework. There is also concern that schools would be judged for factors beyond their control such as struggling to access external specialists. You touched on the interplay between schools…”

“On a quiet day in Westminster, I have had a chance to dive into the Conservative party’s 2024 manifesto, which promised: “We will complete the implementation of the Cass Review”. A similar commitment appeared in our own manifesto, which we are now cracking on with and delivering. Does my right hon. Friend share my conc…”

“T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.”

“Whether it is cheering along to every one of those England goals, bawling our eyes out as we watch the heartbreaking social drama “Tip Toe”, or even following the latest twists and turns at Westminster from trusted news sources, it is undoubtable that public sector broadcasting enriches all our lives. We have heard abo…”

“My hon. Friend will know that I am a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, which recently published a report called “Forced Labour in the UK’s Supply Chains”. One of our recommendations was that the Government need to strengthen section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and specifically the reporting duty, in…”

“I am an ex-classics teacher, so you don’t need to convince me that sometimes the way you teach people to develop skills in the modern world does not have to look at the modern world.”

“There will be some frustration about the time it has taken—not just under this Government—to get to this point, as it has taken many, many years. But I recognise what you have said today. Thank you.”

“I turn to a different but no less harrowing issue: historical forced adoptions. I recognise that in your opening statement, you said, “You will get the apology.” That is the clearest and most definitive commitment we have had on that up to now, and I thank you for it. However, you will also be aware that when the Educa…”

“I chair the all-party parliamentary groups for schools, learning and assessment, for social mobility and on classics.”

“Secretary of State, as you know, the Committee called for a ban on social media for under-16s. It was good to see that ban announced. One potential challenge that has been identified is that the Government are also committed to delivering votes to 16 and 17-year-olds, and concerns have been raised about a cliff edge. E…”

“Finally, Scotland and Wales already have votes at 16. What lessons have you learned from the support that has been extended in Scotland and Wales?”

“It depends on what you mean by strategically important.”

“We have seen in recent years the devastating effect of safeguarding failings in early years. As part of our inquiry into early years, we have heard concerns about an operational gap between statutory intent and real-world practice. What work are you doing to close that gap and strengthen safeguarding in early years?”