Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Language for Life Programme

Monday 29 April 2024 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Language for Life programme reduced the percentage of children needing additional language support from 84% to 29% in participating schools.
  • The Minister expressed interest in hearing more about the Language for Life programme and highlighted the success of the Nuffield Early Language Intervention.
  • The first phase of the free childcare entitlement rollout benefited 200,000 children, according to the Minister.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Education
Context

There is growing evidence of the importance of early language support in nurseries and pre-schools. The Language for Life programme, supported by St John's Foundation in Bath, has shown significant success in reducing the need for additional language support among participating children.

Question

Programmes such as Language for Life, which is supported by St John's Foundation in Bath, underpin the work that schools are doing. The percentage of children needing additional language support in schools that participated reduced from 84% to 29%. Will the Government prioritise speech and language programmes like Language for Life?

Answer from David Johnston

What the hon. Lady sets out sounds very encouraging, but I look forward to hearing more about the Language for Life programme. We have been pleased with the findings of the Government-funded Nuffield Early Language Intervention, which has helped children make four months' additional development in their oral language skills and disadvantaged children seven months' additional progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not specifically commit to prioritising the Language for Life programme or other similar initiatives

How: Look Forward To Hearing More

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Education
Context

There is growing evidence of the importance of early language support in nurseries and pre-schools. The Language for Life programme, supported by St John's Foundation in Bath, has shown significant success in reducing the need for additional language support among participating children.

Question

Programmes such as Language for Life, which is supported by St John's Foundation in Bath, underpin the work that schools are doing. The percentage of children needing additional language support in schools that participated reduced from 84% to 29%. I am sure the Minister will want to congratulate the schools and St John's Foundation on the work they are doing, but will the Government prioritise speech and language programmes such as Language for Life?

Answer from David Johnston

What the hon. Lady sets out sounds very encouraging, but I look forward to hearing more about the Language for Life programme. We have been pleased with the findings of the Government-funded Nuffield Early Language Intervention, which has helped children make four months' additional development in their oral language skills and disadvantaged children seven months' additional progress.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not specifically commit to prioritising the Language for Life programme or other similar initiatives

How: Look Forward To Hearing More

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Q3 Theresa Villiers Con
Children & Families
Context

There is a free childcare entitlement initiative that is being rolled out in phases. The first phase has been delivered, and the second phase is scheduled for September.

Question

Will the Minister give us an update on this month's delivery of the first phase of the free childcare entitlement, and may I urge him to ensure that we deliver phase 2 on time in September?

Answer from David Johnston

The first phase of the roll-out went very well indeed. Some 200,000 children are now benefiting from the first stage of the roll-out, which Labour Members doubted could happen—we have shown again that we have a plan while they have absolutely none.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide an update on this month's delivery and did not commit to delivering phase 2 on time

How: Doubt From Labour Members, Showing That We Have A Plan

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