Question follow-through · 69096
Mathematics: Assessments
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what evidential basis there is a six second time limit per question in the national multiplication tables check; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of this methodology on children wit
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Education
- Tabled
- 18 Jul 2025
- Target answer date
- 22 Jul 2025
- Answer
- 28 Jul 2025 · 10 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Education and skills
- Teachers' Pensions · 22 Jul 2025
- Academies: Playgrounds · 29 Aug 2025
- Playgrounds: Safety · 29 Aug 2025
- Special Educational Needs · 29 Aug 2025
- Special Educational Needs · 29 Aug 2025
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Recorded timeline
18 Jul 2025
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what evidential basis there is a six second time limit per question in the national multiplication tables check; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of this methodology on children wit
22 Jul 2025
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
28 Jul 2025
Answer published
The multiplication tables check (MTC) assesses fluent recall of times tables, meaning the time available is a key element. The six second time limit was decided as the most appropriate to promote effective recall following a rigorous test development proc...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Teachers' Pensions
22 Jul 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of communication by Teachers’ Pensions with scheme members.
Academies: Playgrounds
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what capital funding streams are available to academy trusts for essential playground (a) repairs and (b) replacement.
Playgrounds: Safety
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Education and Skills Funding Agency monitors academy trust compliance with health and safety standards for school playgrounds.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making written feedback from schools consulted during Education, Health and Care Plan placement decisions legally binding on local authorities.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on verifying the (a) staffing, (b) space and (c) specialist-expertise capacity of schools before naming them in education, health and care plans.
Educational Psychology
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) improve the (i) timeliness and (ii) depth of educational psychology assessments and (b) end the use of short virtual consultations for children with complex needs.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative estimate she has made of the number of specialist-school places (a) in Rushcliffe constituency and (b) nationally; and what plans she has to increase capacity of those places.
Special Educational Needs: Nottinghamshire
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether high needs funding allocations for Nottinghamshire will be increased to cover (a) one-to-one support, (b) teaching assistant pay and (c) inflation.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review up-front high needs funding thresholds.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide dedicated (a) capital and (b) revenue funding for (i) withdrawal spaces, (ii) bespoke curricula and (iii) other in-school alternative provision when recommended by specialist professionals.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will require local authorities to (a) recognise and (b) fund (i) safe spaces, (ii) full-time one-to-one support and (iii) other adaptations as core SEND provision.
Special Educational Needs
29 Aug 2025 · To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to align (a) inspection, (b) funding and (c) placement-decision systems to reflect constraints faced by mainstream schools supporting pupils with complex needs.