THE LOST GENERATION
9 million children will not return to school until September at earliest
ALMOST nine million children will be off school for six months or more.
The Tories were in disarray as they ditched their plan to get more primary school pupils into class before the summer holidays.
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield said the closures may lead to a “lost generation”.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson was accused of being “asleep on the job”.
PUPILS are facing a year of turmoil as the Tories dropped their plan to get more children back in class before the end of the summer term.
Nearly nine million youngsters will be off school for at least six months.
Ministers had been under pressure from teachers to rethink the proposal.
Schools warned it would be impossible to implement amid staff shortages and social distancing. There were also fears over infections.
Union leaders last night warned that a return to school in September could not be taken for granted.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who admitted the disruption could leave kids needing “a year or more” of support to catch up, has been accused of being “asleep on the job”.
It came as the UK death toll rose yesterday by 286 to 40,883.
Children’s Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, warned the sustained school “lost generation”. closures could lead to a
She added “the education divide is broadening... almost a decade of catching up on that gap may be lost”.
Ms Longfield said: “The risk I am most concerned about is that of a generation of children losing over six months of formal education, socialising with friends and structured routine... The Government need to face up to the scale of damage this scale-up is doing their to response.” children and She said the closures have sparked fears over mental health and safeguarding. Pupils in England in reception, Year 1 and Year 6 began to return to class last week – though only half of primary schools opened their doors. The aim was for all primary school years to have a month in class before the end of term. Ministers want secondary schools to reopen in September, but there are doubts this will be possible.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Our approach throughout has been we need to be cautious and the return needs to be phased.”
Pupils in years 10 and 12 will receive some face-to-face time with teachers from June 15, as they prepare for GCSE and A-Level exams.
Dr Mary Bousted, joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The Government must work with
[exam watchdog]
Ofqual to redesign
GCSE and A-level qualifications so they are fair for all pupils – including those without access to computers at home.
“The challenge is immense. We need a national recovery plan for education along the lines of the job recovery plan.”
Tory MP Robert Halfon, who chairs the Commons Education Committee, said: “I think we’re a strange country. We turn a blind eye to mass demonstrations, we campaign for pubs and cafes to open, yet we say to open schools before September is too risky when all the evidence – from the World Health Organisation, from many other European countries, from the chief medical officer in the UK – suggests otherwise.
“We are potentially damaging children’s life chances.”
Labour MP Meg Hillier said Mr Williamson is “asleep on the job” and he has “no clear plan” to distribute laptops to vulnerable pupils who struggle to learn from home. Mr Williamson insisted the Government is “on track” over distributing laptops.
But he said work to help students make up lost time may take over a year.
He added ditching the aim to get more primary pupils into class was based on “the best scientific advice”.
The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the U-turn after warning the Government that until its
“guidance on safety in schools changes there would be significant practical barriers” to putting the plan into action.
Shadow Education Secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: “For weeks, headteachers, unions, school staff and many parents have warned the plans to open whole primary schools before the summer were impractical while implementing social distancing safely.
“So I welcome [Mr Williamson’s] decision to roll back from that. However, I must state my deep dismay at the way this has been handled.”
In recent days schools in several council areas in the North West decided to delay or axe plans to expand school reopening to more year groups due to the growing rate of Covid-19 infections.
There are 9.5 million children attending schools and further education colleges from reception to Year 12.
By Thursday, 659,000 pupils were in the classroom – just 7% of all pupils aged from five to 16.
CARERS, key workers and good neighbours will all be celebrated on the 72nd birthday of the NHS next month.
Celebrities, health chiefs, trade unions and religious leaders will mark a national moment in the fight against the pandemic.
The public can light a candle in their window during a minute’s silence for all those killed by Covid-19.
The next day will feature a “clap of thanks” before neighbours raise a glass or cuppa outside their homes.
It is backed by figures including astronaut Tim Peake, NHS boss Sir
Simon Stevens and ex-England footballer Gary Lineker.
In a joint letter published today dozens of individuals and groups have backed making Sunday July 5 a day to bring people together. The idea comes from the newly founded Together coalition, which includes the CBI, trades unions, the Scouts and Guides. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “My sincere hope is this weekend will serve as a powerful moment of remembrance, thanks and connection, as we come together and commit to helping to create kinder, closer more