Phillipson argued that the Government's failure to act has led to a widening attainment gap and increased costs for parents. She stressed the importance of providing support to help children recover from learning losses, including tutoring hours and mental health services. Phillipson also criticised the National Tutoring Programme for failing to deliver its promised outcomes.

Efford agreed with Phillipson that funding cuts under this government predate the pandemic, highlighting a 6.3% decrease in school funding since 2014-15.

Gullis interrupted to say he would tell later but did not provide further elaboration or detail.

Holmes reminded the House of the £5 billion invested by the government in catch-up costs and challenged Labour on how much they would commit if they were in power.

McDonagh suggested that cutting tax relief for those owning two properties could generate £660 million to fund catch-up costs.

Hardy proposed addressing tax fraud as a means of raising money for important issues such as children's education.

Timpson asked if Phillipson agreed that the closure of schools during lockdown had profound impacts and suggested schools should be considered essential national infrastructure in future pandemics.

West highlighted the lack of increase in school meal budgets since 2014, describing it as a disgrace.

Johnson agreed with Phillipson's stance on investing more in early years education to tackle inequalities and referenced Sure Start centres' positive impact on marginalised areas.

Siddiq noted that only 40% of families eligible for tax-free childcare have applied due to confusing eligibility rules, criticising the government's response as inadequate amid rising childcare costs.

The hon. Member acknowledges the importance of a good education in helping individuals plot a path to a better life and emphasises that it remains a top priority for the Government, with nearly £5 billion committed to an ambitious and comprehensive recovery package aimed at supporting children's learning and accelerating pupil progress through tutoring and extra educational opportunities. He also mentions additional funding of £4 billion for this academic year and £7 billion over the spending review period. The hon. Member highlights that more than half a million courses have been started by pupils across England, with regions such as the north-west, Yorkshire and the Humber leading in participation rates. Furthermore, he discusses the importance of teacher training, with an investment of £250 million for 500,000 opportunities through initial teacher training, the early career framework, and new professional qualifications.

The hon. Member asks what proportion of the £5 billion funding will be used to cover inflationary costs for schools rather than being spent on teachers.

The hon. Member thanks the Minister for his generosity in taking interventions and notes that oracy has a greater impact on children’s progress than other elements mentioned, such as extending the school day or small group tutoring. She expresses disappointment at its exclusion from the schools White Paper.

The hon. Member acknowledges the difficulty of recruiting and retaining good teachers in primary and secondary education, highlighting the importance of the £3,000 levelling-up premium for recruitment and retention efforts.

The hon. Member discusses the challenge of retaining public servants such as teachers in high-cost areas like Reading where housing and rental prices are very high, and no extra compensation is given to teachers for this issue.

The hon. Member stresses the impact of child poverty on a child's life chances and opportunities and argues that without tackling child poverty, efforts to invest in later stages education will be undermined.

Asked the Minister about unclaimed tax credits for childcare, highlighting that nearly £2.8 billion-worth of tax credits were unclaimed last year and questioned the disparity in Government spending on advertising Brexit versus telling parents about childcare subsidies.

Made a humorous comment, asking if another speaker was impersonating Nick Gibb, suggesting some level of frustration or sarcasm towards the Government's policies.

Acknowledged the primary physical education and sport premium initiative, which has been in place since 2013 at a cost of £320 million per year, going straight to primary schools. Asked if it will continue into the next academic year.

Discussed high poverty rates in his constituency with 45% of children living in relative poverty, more than double the national average. Questioned if free childcare eligibility should be expanded and if the total amount of free childcare available to families needs increasing.

Commented on the pupil premium, noting that it has been cut in real terms since the coalition government left office, by £160 per secondary pupil and by £127 per primary pupil.

Suggested including warnings about knife crime in personal, social, health and economic education to address a case of a young boy being stabbed. Asked the Minister if he is willing to write on this important matter.

Asked about support for women with children under two years old, questioning what they are expected to do to avoid leaving the workforce due to lack of childcare options.

Creasy argues the UK's childcare system does not support parents or employers, with high costs pushing families out of the workforce. She highlights that 40% of mothers work fewer hours due to childcare costs and that women aged 24 to 35 are increasingly not working because of these costs. The MP also notes that 76% of schools reported needing additional support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds post-pandemic. Creasy stresses the importance of addressing this issue as it impacts economic productivity and equality.

There is significant funding for remote learning equipment and a £5 billion catch-up plan, including the holiday activities and food programme which provides meals and educational support during school holidays. Family hubs are being rolled out to offer parents vital support, particularly those on low incomes, ensuring every child has the best start in life through early years education. Priority investment areas bring additional funding and new resources into disadvantaged districts. The Government is also supporting schemes like the Challenge Trust's pupil premium fund which aims to provide enrichment activities for eligible students.

The reality of prohibitive childcare costs means women are being priced out of work, leading to lost income and career progression opportunities. Women who had a baby in 2010 have missed out on £70,000 over the decade due to childcare expenses. The UK leads in net childcare costs, representing 29% of income compared to 11% in France or just 1% in Germany. Labour argues for affordable childcare as an essential solution for tackling gender inequality and supporting women's return to work after having children.

I have now served 23 years representing my community, initially with a Labour council and a Labour Government and now with a Conservative council and a Conservative Government. Under our Government, we have delivered a swathe of new schools, including the new £23 million Great Western Academy which is full, and we are seeking to expand. This has improved school choice for parents in my constituency significantly. As a supporter of free schools, I propose consolidating multi-academy trusts and integrating various educational provisions on large sites to cater better for diverse needs and stages of development among children. Furthermore, I call for improvements in the consultation process for free schools to ensure it reflects community wishes more accurately. On nurseries, I pay tribute to their hard work during the pandemic and propose removing business rates for them as they are educational establishments. I also suggest that nurseries should be eligible to bid for catch-up funding aimed at post-covid recovery to address speech delays in young children entering nursery.

Wilson emphasised the importance of addressing child poverty and hunger, citing statistics from a YouGov poll that showed over 2.6 million children in households experiencing food insecurity. She called for the extension of free school meals to all primary-aged children and those in secondary education receiving universal credit due to the cost of living crisis. Wilson highlighted the negative impacts of hunger on children's mental health and academic performance, stressing the need for well-balanced meals that support brain development. She expressed concern about potential cuts to portion sizes and school funding as energy costs rise. Wilson also discussed high childcare costs, noting a survey finding that two-thirds of parents pay more for childcare than rent or mortgage. She urged the Government to address these issues directly rather than tweaking ratios. Lastly, she advocated for better measurement and tracking of mental health support provision for children.

Emphasises the importance of focusing on outcomes rather than spending figures in children's services. Challenges the opposition's view by highlighting the successful implementation of free schools policy under a Conservative-led coalition government. Discusses the £41.5 billion spent on children’s services and maintained schools, noting that two-thirds of this goes to education. Advocates for shifting investment towards family hubs as they enable greater benefits with the same level of expenditure. Acknowledges the increase in revenue balances held by schools but notes a challenge remains in ensuring nursery settings are well-funded under the national funding formula. Supports tax-free childcare and highlights its benefits, while also suggesting looking at childcare ratios to ensure optimal service delivery. Stresses the importance of early education for long-term academic success and welcomes increased focus on spending money effectively. Argues that local discretion in resource allocation brings the best results, particularly for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The UK's childcare system is one of the most expensive in the world and poorly targets support until a child reaches three years old, impacting women disproportionately. Women aged 25-34 are increasingly dropping out of work to care for their families, which has risen by 5% year-over-year. Part-time nursery costs have increased by 59% since 2010, leading many mothers to make difficult economic decisions such as working multiple jobs or leaving the workforce entirely.

The Government has provided free childcare for three and four-year-olds benefiting over 1.21 million children and 124,000 two-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds through tax-free childcare. Additionally, £20 million is committed to support ten new family hubs, with Bolton expected to benefit significantly from the levelling-up agenda and public services investment.

Supports the motion, emphasises the importance of education investment for any country's future. Highlights the pandemic's impact on education and calls for a focused strategy with adequate funding to address challenges such as better-paid teachers, improved school buildings, and additional resources like technology and school trips. Criticises poor spending decisions in areas like PPE procurement and tax relief for second homes.

The speaker emphasised the importance of oracy in education and its benefits throughout primary and secondary school. She cited evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation, highlighting that explicit teaching is crucial for effective communication skills development. Additionally, she addressed childcare costs, noting they account for 29% of average income. The speaker also shared a constituent's experience of struggling to afford childcare despite both parents working full-time.

Investment in childcare is crucial for economic recovery. The high cost of childcare impacts women's employment, with many considering leaving their jobs due to costs equivalent or exceeding rent/mortgage payments. Childcare crisis affects airport workers disproportionately, hindering workplace productivity. Government needs to invest more effectively in childcare to support families and boost the economy. Canada’s model shows a $1 investment yields returns between $1.50 and $2.80, indicating significant economic benefits from subsidised childcare.

Children's wellbeing and learning are compromised by the pandemic's restrictions and the focus on testing. The Life-Changing Libraries initiative promotes reading for pleasure, improving literacy without the need for extensive tests. There is a need to reduce over-testing as it limits teachers' ability to provide engaging lessons. Scrapping SATs and focusing on holistic development would better serve children’s educational needs. Curriculum should support creativity in subjects like art, music, drama, and dance. Addressing child poverty through reinstating the £20 universal credit uplift is crucial for their wellbeing. Teachers’ stress levels are alarming, highlighting the need for better work conditions.

Echoing tributes paid to dedicated education staff and highlighting the struggles faced by children during exams post-pandemic, Morgan criticises the government’s failure in aiding learning recovery. He mentions specific Labour initiatives such as small-group tutoring for all who need it, breakfast clubs, mental health support, professional development for teachers, and targeted investment for disadvantaged youth. He also addresses childcare costs and their impact on women's economic participation and national prosperity.

Responds to contributions on early years education costs, paternity leave stigma, academies, childcare affordability, breakfast and after-school clubs, tax-free childcare uptake, international comparisons, special educational needs, business rates for nurseries, ratios in childcare settings, holiday activities and food programme funding, free school meals eligibility, Sure Start, family hubs, maintained nursery schools, oracy investment.

This House notes it is a year since the resignation of the Education Recovery Commissioner Sir Kevan Collins; condemns the Government’s continued failure in that time to deliver an ambitious plan for children’s recovery, including supporting their mental health and wellbeing; expresses concern over inadequate attention being paid to childcare both for the youngest children and around the school day which is allowing the attainment gap to widen and costs to soar for parents at a time of significant pressure on household finances; calls on the Government to match Labour's ambitious plan for children’s recovery, including measures to keep childcare costs down for parents while the cost of living crisis continues.