Schools September vow...we can do it, says PM
BORIS Johnson yesterday vowed all children will be back at school full-time in September.
The Prime Minister also hinted that the two-metre social distancing rule could be relaxed.
Speaking during a school visit, Mr Johnson said it was “absolutely” his aspiration that pupils of all ages in England will be back in the classroom for a full five days a week by September.
He said: “I want a world in which, as far as possible, provided we can make classrooms safe, and I think we can, I want every child, every pupil, every student, back in September. I’m sure we can get it done.
“Schools are safe to come back to for early years, for reception, for year one and year six in primary, year 10 and 12 in secondary. Now is the time to come back, get your kids back into school.
Bubbles
“And, of course, on the social distancing measures, as I’ve said, watch this space.
“We will be putting in further changes as the science allows.
“I think that’s what the public also wants to see, they want to see us working with the reality.”
The PM made the comments during a visit to Bovingdon Primary School in Herts yesterday, where he was given a cake for his 56th birthday.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson also suggested the two-metre rule could be dropped when he said the Government plans to expand classroom “pupil bubbles” from the current 15 to 30 in September.
Speaking during the daily Downing Street coronavirus briefing, Mr Williamson said: “We’ve been creating bubbles of children in the classroom, creating a protective environment for those children.
“Currently that is at 15.What we would be looking at doing is expanding those bubbles to include the whole class.” Mr Williamson said ministers would publish guidance for schools on how to bring children back “within the next two weeks”.
He added: “This is why we’ve said clearly we’re going to be publishing the further guidance within the next two weeks so that schools have the maximum amount of time to prepare for the next phase of welcoming children back.”
His comments came as the Government’s £1billion plan to help pupils catch up with learning came under fire from education leaders. Headteachers said they were not consulted on the details of the scheme, which will see the most disadvantaged children in England given access to funds to pay for tutors.
The majority of the funding will be shared across schools to help pupils from all backgrounds affected by the lockdown. College and nursery leaders have criticised the Government for leaving their pupils out after it announced that £650million would be given to state primary and secondary schools for the 202021 academic year. A further £350million will be spent on a one-year subsidised national tutoring programme targeted at the most disadvantaged pupils in schools. Sector leaders say the
funding will not reach young children in nurseries and college students who are “in need of support” amid the pandemic.
David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said it was “indefensible” to overlook the needs of students in colleges across the country.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, accused the Government of failing young children “who are most in need of support in their early development”.
David Laws, executive chair of the Education Policy Institute think tank, said the plan was “poorly targeted”.
He added: “We are concerned that there seems to be no extra financial support for early years or sixth form students.
“These phases are crucially important yet they have suffered from persistent funding neglect over a sustained period of time.”
And Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The desire to bring everyone back is correct, but we need to know what the Government is thinking and the scenarios they are planning for.”