Kids ‘may never catch up’

ONE in six children may never be able to catch up on lost school time during the pandemic without the right support, England’s children’s commissioner has warned.

Anne Longfield said measures needed to be in place ahead of schools’ likely reopening across the country from March 8 for children who have been struggling with learning at home.

The Government is said to be considering a number of options – including summer schools, extended school days and shorter holidays – as catch-up plans for pupils who have missed out on learning due to Covid.

Ms Longfield said: “Part of that really needs to be as well about helping children to build back those social skills and that confidence. There are children who won’t make up the time they’ve lost, who are struggling.

“About one in six children, if they don’t get extra support, won’t ever catch up.”

She hopes to see primary schools reopen sooner than secondary schools. “Those children are less able to work at home remotely and need a greater level of care and support.”

THOUSANDS of business owners are struggling to access much-needed funds from local authorities with councils failing to hand out £1.6 billion, according to new data.

The Events Industry Alliance submitted

Freedom of Information requests to the 314 councils across England responsible for distributing the Additional Restrictions Grants. Just 13% of the money had been handed out by the 40 that responded.