HARLOW MP Robert Halfon rose on the floor of the House of Commons to ask the minister of state for education a question on alternate provision in education.

Mr Halfon : “To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress his Department is making on (a) improving and (b) strengthening the quality of (i) teachers and (ii) leaders in alternative provision; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb Minister of State (Education): “Improving teacher quality is key to improving educational outcomes for pupils wherever they are in the country and within all forms of provision, including alternative provision (AP). High-quality teachers are the single most important factor determining how well pupils achieve in all schools.

“On 16 March, the Government published ‘Creating Opportunity for All: Our Vision for Alternative Provision’. This sets out the Government’s vision to ensure that all AP settings provide high quality education, including by ensuring that staff within AP providers can access relevant opportunities for continuous professional development.