Written questions by Morrison.

What steps she is taking to ensure staff in school-based nursery settings are adequately trained to care for infants under two years old.

The early years workforce is at the heart of the government’s mission to give every child the best start in life and deliver our Plan for Change.The department is providing a range of high-quality support and training for early years educators and leaders, building a stronger, more expert workforce, to enable nursery settings to deliver quality early education, including our online early years child development training, online support available through the ‘Help for early years providers’ and ‘Foundation years’ services, and a range of non-statutory guidance to support effective curriculum and assessment, including ‘Development Matters’. We have also extended funding of the Stronger Practice Hubs until March 2026 to continue support for early years educators to improve practice.Our online child development training in particular is designed to help early years educators build and strengthen their knowledge, in response to user research which identified a specific need from educators working with the zero to four age group for practical easily accessible information to support implementation of the early years foundation stage (EYFS). The training includes a specific module on understanding child development and the importance of early childhood education and care, including how to implement strategies to provide a positive approach in a setting, the importance of child development knowledge, the various factors that impact on children’s development and how to effectively deliver the EYFS.Last year, in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust the department produced safer sleep guidance which is available on the Foundation Years website. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.The department has also produced guidance with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on supporting distressed babies and the importance of positive interactions on baby brain development. These support providers with developing enriching relationships with the babies in their settings, by recognising their social cues and responding appropriately.Later this year the department will publish a strategy to reform early years education, including the workforce. We will work in partnership with the sector, reforming training and support for the workforce to drive up standards and offer sustained professional development. We will work in partnership with those inside and outside of government to test new approaches and drive progress towards a common goal of giving every child the best start in life.

Whether her Department plans to make safer sleep training mandatory for early years staff working with babies under two years old.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Whether her Department plans to introduce unannounced Ofsted inspections in early years settings where (a) safeguarding concerns and (b) whistleblowing allegations have been raised.

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

What assessment she has made of the (a) capacity and (b) preparedness of early years providers to safely care for babies under 12 months in the context of the expansion of funded childcare.

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, in order to give every child the best start in life. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.In September 2025, subject to parliamentary procedure the department will be introducing changes to the safeguarding requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years settings must follow. The framework can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2.This includes requirements which will help keep babies under 12 months as safe as possible, such as a new safer eating section, which includes a requirement to have ongoing discussions with parents and/or carers in regard to introducing solid foods.Last year, in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust the department produced safer sleep guidance which is available on the Foundation Years, which can be accessed here: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.The department also produced guidance with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on supporting distressed babies, available at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2025/01/responding-to-babies-cries-a-guide-for-early-years-educators/, and the importance of positive interactions on baby brain development, available at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2025/01/the-importance-of-positive-interactions-on-baby-brain-development/. These support providers with developing enriching relationships with the babies in their settings, by recognising their social cues and responding appropriately.The department has already seen a strong response from the early years sector following the introduction of the new entitlement, the latest stage of which was the expansion to 15 hours for eligible children under two in September 2024. 2023 to 2024 saw nearly three times the growth in places (44,000 compared to 15,000) and more than 1.5 times the growth in staff (20,000 compared to 13,000) working in early years compared to 2022 to 2023, showing the early years market is responding positively to the demand. Continuing this growth ahead of September 2025 will allow more families to benefit from the expansion.

Whether her Department plans to issue new guidance to early years providers on the use of sleep products not suitable for infants under two years of age.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

If she will require Ofsted inspectors to undertake specialist training in safe sleep practices for infants during qualifications to inspect early years settings.

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

If she will require early years providers to demonstrate how they (a) assess and (b) manage risks associated with infant sleep practices.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

Whether she plans to require Ofsted inspectors to review CCTV footage in assessments of infant sleep safety practices during inspections of early years settings.

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

Whether her Department plans to update the early years foundation stage statutory framework to include (a) explicit and (b) enforceable safe sleep guidance for children under two in group care settings.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework which all early years providers are required to follow includes a requirement for babies to be placed down to sleep in line with the latest government safety guidance. This guidance can be accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/.Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS requirements. Early years providers failing to follow safer sleep practice in line with this guidance would be in breach of the requirements and subject to enforcement action.The early years qualification requirements and standards document sets out the minimum qualification requirements, including the qualifications criteria at levels 2 and 3, that staff must meet to be recognised as level 2, level 3 or level 6 members of staff for the purpose of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios. This document can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards.Both the level 2 and level 3 criteria include knowledge of rest and sleep provision, with level 3 also including use of equipment, furniture and materials safely with regard for sleep safety.In September 2024, the department worked in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust to produce guidance which is available on the Foundation Years platform at: https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/2024/09/safer-sleeping-practices-for-early-years-educators/. This covers a variety of areas including sleeping products which are not suitable for babies, suitable sleeping surfaces for babies and safe use of blankets.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure Ofsted inspections of early years settings adequately assess adherence to safe sleep guidance for babies under two years old.

The department’s priority is to grow high-quality, affordable and flexible education and care for children, whilst ensuring their safety, giving every child the best start of life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements for early years settings to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.The department sets the standards which early years settings such as nurseries must follow, these are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework and can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. The department also sets policy on inspection and registration, but how it is implemented is for Ofsted to decide whilst remaining accountable to Parliament.The decision to install and use camera surveillance equipment in a nursery is a matter for individual providers to determine based on their own risk assessment and policies.Ofsted can carry out any early years inspection without notice and these usually take place due to previous inadequate judgements or as a result of risk assessments after concerns have been raised.In September 2025, subject to Parliamentary procedure we will be introducing changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements. This includes new requirements around whistleblowing, to help ensure that all early years educators understand when and how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/early-years-foundation-stage-eyfs-safeguarding.Ofsted’s early years inspectors are early years professionals with relevant knowledge of safer sleep practice and can assess a provider’s adherence to the relevant suitability and safer sleeping requirements in the EYFS.

If she will (a) re-establish and (b) extend funding for the Internships Work project.

In 2022, the department invested £18 million to improve the quality of supported internships and increase the quantity to 4,500 internships per year by March 2025. The Internships Work consortium has led this investment.Owing to the commitment of everyone involved in the programme, indicative data shows that the department has reached its aim of doubling the number of supported internships to 4,500 across the country. The interim report from our evaluation of the programme also shows an improvement in the quality of intern placements with employers and numbers of interns progressing into employment. The full interim report can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-internship-programme-evaluation-of-investment.We will provide an update in due course.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing funding for early intervention in children’s social care on costs to the public purse.

Local government spending on children’s social care has risen by £4.4 billion over the last decade whilst spend on non-statutory, preventative services has fallen from £3.9 billion in 2012/13 to £2.7 billion in 2022/23, which is a fall of 31% in real terms.The department wants to shift the dial to prioritise earlier intervention, removing barriers to accessing support. Families should access the right help at the earliest opportunity, to improve outcomes for children and to reduce the need for future costly intervention.In this financial year, over £500 million is available to local authorities to roll out Family Help, multi-agency child protection and family network reforms through the Families First Partnership (FFP) programme. The FFP programme is based on strong evidence from several programmes delivered by local partners and we expect these reforms to lead to sustained reductions in spend on children’s social care. Local authorities will be able to recruit more practitioners who can spend more time with children and families at the earliest opportunity, to avoid later costly crisis intervention. We expect to generate savings by diverting children from care and improving school attendance and attainment, directly impacting the Opportunity Mission.The government will continue to look at this closely in the next phase of the spending review.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing the Internships Work project on (a) local authorities, (b) employment agencies and (c) young people.

In 2022, the department invested £18 million to improve the quality of supported internships and increase the quantity to 4,500 internships per year by March 2025. The Internships Work consortium has led this investment.Owing to the commitment of everyone involved in the programme, indicative data shows that the department has reached its aim of doubling the number of supported internships to 4,500 across the country. The interim report from our evaluation of the programme also shows an improvement in the quality of intern placements with employers and numbers of interns progressing into employment. The full interim report can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-internship-programme-evaluation-of-investment.We will provide an update in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Education and Skills Funding Agency on (a) academy trusts and (b) their capability to provide effective pastoral support.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency closed on 31 March 2025 and its functions transferred to the department. The chief executive officer of the Agency, at its closure, issued an accounting officer letter to the sector on 19 March 2025 confirming the transfer of functions to the department. This letter is available on GOV.UK at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67d95fceb1857deda3da016d/Letter_to_accounting_officers_-_19_March_2025.pdf.Moving the agency functions into the department allows for more joined-up delivery, both in the regulatory space and in the services it provides to the sector. It enables a single, joined-up approach to funding and regulation to improve accountability, provides a unified voice to schools and ensures that financial improvement is central to school improvement.

What (a) financial incentives and (b) grants are available to encourage schools to utilise solar energy.

The department recently announced, in partnership with GB Energy, an £80 million (£40 million from the department and £40 million from GB Energy) initiative to install solar and other technologies such as electric vehicle chargers in 200 schools and colleges, prioritising those in areas of deprivation, to start in 2025/26.This is one element of our strategy to ensure that the school estate is sustainable. We are providing support for all schools and colleges to start on their journey towards net zero via our new online sustainability support for education platform and our climate ambassador programme. Where schools are considering the purchase of solar panels or other sustainable systems, our ‘Get help for buying’ service provides support to ensure that schemes procured are of high-quality and value to the sector. More information can be found here: https://gethelpbuyingforschools.campaign.gov.uk/.Details of other government funding available to public bodies for sustainability, can be found at this website, prepared by the Crown Commercial Service: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/social-value/carbon-net-zero/funding-and-grants.Capital funding allocated to the school sector each year can also be used for projects that improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of school buildings, as well as improving the condition of the estate to keep schools safe and operational. Decisions on which projects to prioritise can be primarily taken at a local level.The department has allocated £2.1 billion in condition funding for the 2025/26 financial year, which is £300 million more than the previous year.

If she will consider mandating that all new school buildings incorporate solar panels as standard.

In November 2021, the department launched a new set of construction standards addressing sustainability, energy and climate change. These revised standards mandate that all new department funded school buildings include roof mounted photovoltaic panels.The department’s full specification can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/school-design-and-construction#output-specification.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of private examination centres offering full practical assessments for A-Level science students.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a (a) regulatory and (b) governing body to (i) oversee home-educated students and (ii) ensure access to appropriate (A) resources, (B) support and (C) examination facilities.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Whether she is taking steps to financially support independent candidates (a) sitting A-Level exams and (b) requiring multiple resits.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Whether she plans to establish a system of designated (a) schools and (b) colleges offering practical science support for external candidates.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.