I first want to comment on teaching assistants. I do not want to give the impression that I do not value them. I think that, as the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, rightly pointed out, they do a fantastic job in supporting classroom teachers. My concern is how they are increasingly being used to cover for sicknesses, shortages and other absences—it has become almost de rigueur to take them on for that role.
Turning to the amendments, I agree with the Minister that it is vital that the person teaching the subject or the class has a deep knowledge and understanding of that subject or, in primary schools, an understanding of child development and behaviour management. However, far too often we see a subject specialist who has an incredibly detailed knowledge of his or her subject but no ability—no flair, imagination or creativity—to put that subject across. Of course, the pupils are then not able to be successful in that subject.
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The important thing here is what the Minister said at the beginning when we were talking about consultation and parents being engaged. Of course regional commissioners and Ofsted have this information, but if a school is being closed—I have not experienced that situation; I do not know if the Minister has—it is a very traumatic time for parents. It is decided in a meeting to close the school but for the parents—forget for a moment the teachers, governors and pupils—it is incredibly traumatic, and we want to ensure that that process works for them as well. That is why I was particularly taken by the Minister’s comment in the previous debate about how parents should be engaged.
One of the ways in which parents can be engaged is to be reassured about the person leading the school and the qualifications of the teachers—a whole host of issues. That information might be available but let us make sure that it is available to parents and not say to them, “You can find this out by looking at the website”. At that crucial moment in a school, let us make sure that the transition from one school to another—which is another important area—goes as smoothly as possible, with parents supporting it and being given the information. I do not care how that information is arrived at but parents must be given that information so that they can understand it and share the vision, and perhaps become evangelical themselves for the school and the new setting. I hope the Minister will take on board some of those thoughts for future discussion. I withdraw the amendment.