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NEW £83 MILLION INVESTMENT IN TEACHING FACILITIES

Teaching facilities across England will be extended and transformed for 16–19-yearolds as part of a new £83 million investment in post-16 providers.

Demand is expected to increase for post-16 places as more young people continue with education or enter skills training. This investment will mean schools and colleges can continue to offer places to all young people who want them, increasing access to a range of education options, including A levels, T Levels, apprenticeships or traineeships, and ensuring young people can gain the skills they need to progress into a well-paid job. A total of 39 post-16 providers have been awarded a share of the multi-million-pound fund, which will be used to build new classrooms, science labs and extend teaching facilities. This builds on the extensive action under way, as set out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper, to transform further and technical education and deliver the skilled workforce employers and the economy need, helping to level up skills and opportunities for more people across the country. Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart, said: “Every young person should have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to reach their goals and go on to have successful careers. This investment will boost capacity so we can make sure there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old, giving them access to the high-quality learning facilities they need to succeed. “The programme will also support the government’s drive to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with all successful providers required to show how their projects will contribute to the target.” Successful bids include East Kent College Group (Ashford College), which will use their funding to build a new extension, creating an ‘engineering hub’ and additional space for business and IT provision, growing capacity for around 250 new students.

The Chancellor recently announced that the government will invest £2.8 billion of capital funding by 2024/25 so that students have access to the facilities and equipment they need. This includes further funding to support post-16 providers to build additional capacity for the rising numbers of 16 to 19-year-olds.

THE BEST VALUE STREAMING SERVICES

With so many streaming services available, the prospect of picking the best ones for adult programming is already tricky enough, and being a parent comes with the additional complexity of finding one that children can enjoy as well. But which ones will give you the best value for money? And which won’t bore the kids? Money.co.uk analysed the top five streaming services available in the UK, comparing everything from price, quality, functionality and type of content available to give parents a comprehensive guide as to which is best for their family’s needs. They found that:

• For a £7.99 subscription, Amazon Prime gives access to 1,162 Family + Kids titles. This works out at a modest £0.69 per 100 shows.

• Netflix takes second place, with the slightly cheaper subscription price of £5.99 netting you 811 kids titles. • iPlayer is the most expensive service, with a license fee working out at £13.25 per month. For quality programming, iPlayer also takes the top spot however, with an average MetaScore of 64.

• Prime Video also has the most educational shows with 114, while new kid on the block, Disney+, is a distant second with just 36.