Every parliamentary written question tabled by Saqib Bhatti this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 101 · Department for Education
What the cost is of her Department’s marketing campaign with Gemma Collins.
No payments, fees, gifts, hospitality, or any other benefits are being made from the department to Gemma Collins or TM Media PR or any other agent or representative on her behalf.
If she will publish a breakdown of her Department’s marketing and advertising expenditure in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
The department's marketing and advertising expenditure for 2024/2025 is shown below. Final outturn data for the most recent financial year are not yet available.The total marketing spend will be published in the department’s Annual Report and Accounts in ...
Whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on removing VAT from the Music and Dance Scheme Settlement Grant.
The Music and Dance Scheme provides means-tested bursaries so high achieving students in music and dance can secure world-class specialist training regardless of financial circumstances, including at eight private schools. Since 1 January 2025, the standa...
What consideration her Department has given to removing VAT charged on the MDS Settlement Grant for a) MDS Schools and b) parents.
The Music and Dance Scheme provides means-tested bursaries so high achieving students in music and dance can secure world-class specialist training regardless of financial circumstances, including at eight private schools. Since 1 January 2025, the standa...
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of short notice funding decisions on Music and Dance Scheme schools’ ability to plan for future cohorts of students.
The department has already committed to a continuation of the Music and Dance Scheme.The department has been considering multi-year funding for the scheme to support future planning by all the providers, including the eight private schools. Further announ...
What notice her Department plans to provide to Music and Dance Scheme Schools of funding decisions for the next academic year.
The department has already committed to a continuation of the Music and Dance Scheme.The department has been considering multi-year funding for the scheme to support future planning by all the providers, including the eight private schools. Further announ...
What steps her Department is taking to support student provision under the Music and Dance Settlement Grant.
The department has already committed to a continuation of the Music and Dance Scheme.The department has been considering multi-year funding for the scheme to support future planning by all the providers, including the eight private schools. Further announ...
What accountability measures is she implementing for local area partnerships that perform under the required standard.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
What support will be available for children with dyslexia under the Experts at Hand programme.
The Experts at Hand offer will support schools and settings with expert advice and guidance to help them identify and meet a range of special educational needs, including dyslexia. This includes strengthening early identification and supporting more effective, inclusive practice. Through the offer, settings will have earlier and easier access to specialist expertise from educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and other appropriate professionals.Experts at Hand is additional to existing statutory provision and does not replace established school-led approaches or specialist one-to-one services.
Whether funding has been directed from other departments' budgets to the budget of the Department for Education, as she outlined on the 1st December 2025.
The usual practice to transfer budgets between government departments is via budget cover transfers (BCTs), which occur twice a financial year through the Estimates process. The most recent Estimates Memo for the department is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/52047/documents/288898/default/.
How many Speech and Language Therapy Advanced Practitioners will be hired (a) in England and (b) in each Integrated Care Board geographical area.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
How many SEND pupils will have left school entirely before single ECHP reform takes place.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
If she will make a statement on parental rights upon the implementation of SEND reforms outlined in the Schools White Paper.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
If she will conduct an Impact Assessment of the SEND reforms on special schools and specialist provision.
Impact assessments were published alongside the consultation to aid engagement during the consultation period.
If she will conduct an Impact Assessment of the SEND reforms on early years settings supporting children with additional needs.
Impact assessments were published alongside the consultation to aid engagement during the consultation period.
If she will conduct an Impact Assessment of the SEND reforms on mainstream schools’ workload and resource requirements.
Impact assessments were published alongside the consultation to aid engagement during the consultation period.
If she will conduct an Impact Assessment of the SEND reforms on children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans.
Impact assessments were published alongside the consultation to aid engagement during the consultation period.
If she will conduct an Impact Assessment of the SEND reforms on transport obligations for children with SEND.
The government has published equalities and children’s rights impact assessments alongside SEND reform: Putting Children and Young People First.
What steps she is taking to ensure adequate careers support in schools, especially for alternative pathways.
Schools are required to offer multiple opportunities for pupils to hear directly from apprenticeship, further education and training providers.The government has adopted updated Gatsby Benchmarks into statutory guidance. They place greater emphasis on high quality information about alternative pathways. Schools are expected to provide pupils with up-to-date labour market information and information about apprenticeships, T Levels and other technical qualifications across a range of sectors.The government’s commitment to delivering two weeks’ worth of work experience for every young person will further support awareness of alternative pathways, giving secondary pupils practical insights into a wide range of employers and progression routes.Through the Careers and Enterprise Company, the department is continuing to invest in support for careers leaders to embed the Gatsby Benchmarks in schools and to improve pupils’ access to meaningful encounters with employers and providers, workplace experiences and personal guidance.
What (a) responsibilities and (a) powers SEND practitioners will have in Best Start Family Hubs.
The department is investing over £200 million over three years to strengthen the special educational needs and disabilities offer in Best Start Family Hubs, including funding a family-facing practitioner in every hub to support children with additional needs and families from the earliest stages. The practitioners will offer practical, hands‑on advice about their child’s development and help families identify emerging needs much earlier and guide parents on what those signs mean and the next steps to take. They will also help run, or link families into, early support sessions in Hubs, such as toddler groups that promote speech and language. By joining up support across services, the practitioners will ensure families do not have to navigate services alone.We have published the Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies guidance for local authorities, which sets out the role expectations and funding remit, ahead of April 2026 delivery. This guidance can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69c6be4acdfd19de13d0f810/best-start-family-hubs-and-healthy-babies-guidance-for-local-authorities.docx.pdf.