Disadvantaged Children Educational Attainment 2020-10-12
2020-10-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the wellbeing and educational outcomes of disadvantaged children, including those receiving high-quality tuition through the national tutoring programme.
What steps he is taking to (a) improve the wellbeing of disadvantaged children and (b) close the educational attainment gap.
We are taking unprecedented action to help schools support wellbeing, including wellbeing for education return training, and world-leading trials on ways to promote mental health wellbeing. Disadvantaged pupils will receive high-quality tuition through the £350 million national tutoring programme, and we continue to provide schools with the £2.4 billion pupil premium.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps to close the educational attainment gap were not clearly outlined beyond general funding mentions.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP notes that the educational attainment gap between disadvantaged and advantaged children, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities, has widened over the past decade and during the pandemic.
What is the Secretary of State's assessment of the impact of covid on levelling up for SEND children?
I think the hon. Lady and I have a shared passion to make sure that we close that gap, making sure that children, wherever they are born anywhere in the United Kingdom, have the very best opportunities in life. In an earlier answer to my hon. Friend, I touched on the fact that there is a three times weighting for children with special educational needs in terms of the covid catch-up fund, and we announced £1.5 billion-worth of extra funding being channelled into high need funding over this year and next.
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Assessment & feedback
The assessment of impact was not clearly provided; only actions were mentioned without direct address to the question's specific concern.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlights that programmes encouraging and inspiring bright pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds have been impacted this year, especially due to reduced teaching time and mentoring.
What action is the Secretary of State taking to ensure state school pupils get a fair chance in accessing top universities?
I am sure that the hon. Gentleman welcomed the news this year that Oxford and Cambridge welcome more state school pupils than they have ever done before. We want to continue to build on that. Every higher education establishment should ensure all opportunities are available to every child, whatever background they come from.
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Assessment & feedback
The questioner asked about specific actions for the current year's state school pupils, but the response shifted to general goals and historical improvements without addressing immediate support measures.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP argues that tackling rising levels of food poverty would improve wellbeing and educational attainment for disadvantaged children, questioning why the government does not extend the holiday hunger food vouchers to cover more periods.
Why will Ministers not extend the holiday hunger food vouchers programme to the half-term holiday and Christmas holidays?
As well as the incredibly successful holiday activity programme rolled out across many areas, we are looking at what more we can do in these areas while recognising the important role that schools play in supporting pupils and their families.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific reasons for not extending the programme were not provided; only general statements about considering further actions were mentioned.
Response accuracy