Tag: Karen Lumley

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that betting shops are not placed in the same planning use class as cafes, banks and public houses.

Nick Boles

Yes.

Betting shops are currently in the A2 (“financial and professional services”) use class. The Budget announced that we will consult on introducing a wider ‘retail’ use class; I can confirm that this would not include betting shops or payday loan shops.

Moreover, to increase access to retail banking and to encourage new entrants, we have already recently amended secondary legislation such that shops (A1) are now able to change to banks, building societies, credit unions and friendly societies, within the A2 use class. This does not cover betting shops or payday loan shops.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will bring forward proposals to amend the national curriculum to require the teaching of water safety in schools.

Mr Edward Timpson

The Government is committed to ensuring that swimming and teaching water safety takes place in schools. Swimming is an important part of the National Curriculum, which requires that all pupils must be taught to swim at least 25 metres unaided, and be able to use recognised swimming strokes by the end of Key Stage 2 (age 11). It also requires that a child can demonstrate an understanding of water safety. Swimming and water safety remain compulsory in the National Curriculum following the recent curriculum review.

In March 2013 the Prime Minister announced additional ring-fenced funding of £150m per year for each of 2013-14 and 2014-15 to support the provision of PE and sport in primary schools. This funding was extended in the Autumn Statement 2013 to include 2015-16. Qualifying schools would be free to use this to extend their pupils’ access to swimming lessons and water safety awareness.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential role of the local offer in reducing the number of pupils with autism affected by official and unofficial exclusion.

Mr Edward Timpson

An interim evaluation of the school exclusions pilot, published in March 2013, found early indications of schools taking more responsibility for pupils at risk of exclusion, collaborating with each other and working in partnership with local authorities to improve alternative provision in their areas. Such approaches benefit all pupils vulnerable to exclusion, including those with autism.

The Department for Education has introduced wide ranging reforms through the Children and Families Act 2014 to improve provision and support for children and young people with special educational needs or a disability.

The Act requires local authorities to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability. The local offer will set out in one place information about provision families can expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people who have SEN or are disabled, including those who do not have education, health and care (EHC) plans.

The local offer will provide children, young people and parents with clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the services and support available and how to access it, including that from schools.

It will make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving families and service providers in its development and review, enabling them to have a greater say in how services and support develop over time.

This should therefore have an important role to play in improving outcomes and reducing exclusions for children and young people with SEN, including those with autism.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the school exclusions pilot on pupils with autism.

Mr Edward Timpson

An interim evaluation of the school exclusions pilot, published in March 2013, found early indications of schools taking more responsibility for pupils at risk of exclusion, collaborating with each other and working in partnership with local authorities to improve alternative provision in their areas. Such approaches benefit all pupils vulnerable to exclusion, including those with autism.

The Department for Education has introduced wide ranging reforms through the Children and Families Act 2014 to improve provision and support for children and young people with special educational needs or a disability.

The Act requires local authorities to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability. The local offer will set out in one place information about provision families can expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people who have SEN or are disabled, including those who do not have education, health and care (EHC) plans.

The local offer will provide children, young people and parents with clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the services and support available and how to access it, including that from schools.

It will make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving families and service providers in its development and review, enabling them to have a greater say in how services and support develop over time.

This should therefore have an important role to play in improving outcomes and reducing exclusions for children and young people with SEN, including those with autism.