Policy background
In addition to the following section, further policy background is included in the section commentary.
	The Act forms the legislative underpinning for the reforms set out in the white paper Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth ("the white paper") and aims to improve the functioning of the skills and post-16 education system. The Act includes measures to address recommendations made in the Review of Post-18 Education and Funding, build on the aims of the Review of Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3 and Below and support implementation of the Government’s reforms to technical education qualifications, such as the introduction of T Levels and higher technical qualifications.
	The Act also supports the ambitions of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom white paper, which set out how the Government will level up across the UK, provide opportunity for children and young people, tackle productivity gaps, create sustainable jobs and grow the economy in every part of the UK.
	The 2021 Spending Review Settlement demonstrated the Government’s dedication to level up opportunity for children, learners and their families across the country, in order to build back better from COVID-19. The settlement provides an £18.4 billion cash increase for the Department for Education over the Parliament as a whole, which will boost the job prospects of young people and adults, by equipping them with the skills that employers need, to lead to well paid jobs.