Summer camps proposed for ‘hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children’

Catherine Neilan

THE Government is considering proposals to run summer camps for children to catch up on lost time in the classroom as a result of lockdown, Downing Street has confirmed.

Extra help for disadvantaged children is likely to be announced within weeks, amid fears that the lockdown is widening the education gap between rich and poor.

It is thought this could include funding for charities and other education organisations to provide services and school camps during the summer months.

Trainee teachers could also be brought in to give students some class time during the six-week summer break. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Education Secretary has set out his commitment to doing everything he can to make sure young people are not losing out as a result of coronavirus. We are looking at what additional measures may be required to ensure every child has the support they need, including over the summer.”

Writing for The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, called for a “summer programme of education, sport, art, volunteering and support” for secondary pupils.

Last week, the schools minister Nick Gibb told MPS he was “open to all ideas” and was working to deliver

“those sorts of programmes”. But he stressed he had to be “coy” until talks had concluded.

Robert Halfon, Conservative chairman of the education select committee, said a summer camp was essential for helping “hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children” to catch up with their more privileged peers.

“[Lockdown] has had an impact on their education, mental health and general well-being and could possibly crush their life chances if not dealt with,” he said.

“We need a national army of volunteers, of retired teachers, Ofsted inspectors, education charities, helping these left-behind pupils catch up, working with schoolteachers to mentor education and give pastoral care.

“It is why for some time now, I have been calling for summer schools to look after these children and give them back the education and pastoral care they have sadly missed.”

‘[Lockdown] has had an impact... and could possibly crush their life chances if not dealt with’