Extra school lessons online with tutoring programme

Schools can book extra online lessons for the children worst affected by months of closures during the pandemic through a subsidised scheme.

About 15,000 tutors – including university students, teachers and trained volunteers - will deliver tuition during this academic year as part of the Government's National Tutoring Programme.

The multi-million-pound scheme, launched this week, will also see the first wave of 188 Academic Mentors start to provide intensive catch-up support in schools serving disadvantaged communities.

All state primary and secondary schools will be able to request tuition for pupils from an approved list of 32 organisations selected by the Education EndowmentFoundation(EEF).

Tutoring provided will be subsidised so a block of 15 sessions delivered in groups of three will cost the school £50 per pupil rather than £200.

But education unions have questioned whether the money could have been given to schools directly so they could support their qualified teachers to provide tuition.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the scheme, but he added: "It would have been far simpler for the Government to have given this funding directly to schools alongside other catch-up money.

"There is evidence that small group tuition can be extremely beneficial, but this funding could have been used for schools in delivering this through their own teaching staff who already know the pupils."

The National Tutoring Programme (NTP) hopes to enrol tens of thousands of pupils in the first six weeks, with provision increasing after Christmas.