Lazy children also lose out from lack of school, Ofsted boss warns

LAZY children will be among the biggest losers of lockdown, the head of Ofsted has warned.

Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools in England, said youngsters who lacked motivation would fall behind while schools were closed.

Ministers have raised concerns about the impact of school closures on children from deprived households while the Government pledged free laptops and 4G routers to ensure they did not miss out on online learning.

Ms Spielman told MPS that youngsters from disadvantaged families were not the only ones who would struggle to keep up with education at home.

“We know that home and online learning are very imperfect substitutes for the school experience,” she told the education select committee. “We know that children are losing education. It’s not just children who are disadvantaged or academically behind, it’s children without motivation. So it’s in children’s interests to get back into school as soon as possible.”

Schools, colleges and nurseries across the UK closed their doors to the majority of pupils five weeks ago.

Ms Spielman added that “whether we like it or not”, school closures would widen existing attainment gaps.

Meanwhile, a government adviser claimed the widespread introduction of handwashing stations in schools was being considered as part of plans to ease the lockdown. It is understood regular handwashing will be actively promoted, with plans to install basins and hand sanitiser dispensers. Class numbers are likely to be limited, with proposals for a “shift” system to stagger the number of pupils in a building at any one time. Classrooms will be rearranged to maintain social distancing.

A source said: “While it’s still unclear when schools will return, what is clear is that they will have to look very different. The standards need to be higher, especially when it comes to keeping schools a clean and sanitary environment.”

Meanwhile, West Sussex County Council is supplying personal protective equipment (PPE) to schools as the Government refuses to change its guidelines, with four face masks, four plastic aprons and four sets of plastic gloves handed out for “emergencies”.

Mark Anstiss, the head teacher of Felpham Community College, said: “Clearly we don’t want to reduce resources when we know PPE is at a premium. It is certainly a welcome delivery. Anything that will help protect my staff is to be welcomed.”

Unions have called for schools to be supplied with PPE before they are told to reopen for all children.

Guidance from the Department for Education earlier this month stated that school staff did not need PPE, and that teachers should instead “follow steps on social distancing, handwashing and other hygiene measures, and cleaning of surfaces”.

Yesterday, a government scientist suggested students could be taught outside once schools reopened. Prof Charlotte Watts, Department for International Development’s chief scientific adviser, said: “There is quite good evidence that there is less risk if you’re outside. So could you be having school lessons with distancing outside?”

We know children are losing education – so it’s in their interests to get back into school as soon as possible’