Labour stokes revolt over catch-up plan

LABOUR is trying to provoke a fresh Tory rebellion by forcing a vote on the Government’s “totally insufficient” school catch-up plan this week.

Sir Kevan Collins, the education recovery commissioner, walked away from his post on Wednesday, issuing a stinging condemnation of the Government’s £1.4 billion recovery fund for children who have been affected by school closures due to the pandemic.

Following Sir Kevan’s criticism, in which he warned that the support package “falls far short of what is needed”, and an outcry from senior Conservative MPs, Labour is hoping to test the resolve of Government backbenchers on the issue.

The party plans to use an opposition day debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday to pile pressure on ministers to rethink the support package by encouraging Tory MPs to rebel and demand more cash for schools.

Sir Kevan was reportedly pushing for a £15billion learning recovery fund – 10 times more than that announced by Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary – and 100 extra hours of teaching per pupil as part of his recommendations for addressing lost learning.

He also recommended that schools and colleges should be funded for a flexible extension to school time – the equivalent of 30 extra minutes every day.

Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, said: “The Conservatives have treated children as an afterthought throughout the pandemic and are now neglecting them in our recovery.

“Kevan Collins’s resignation makes it clear that the Government’s education recovery plan is totally insufficient to help every child bounce back from

‘Conservative MPs will now have the chance to step up and vote for our children’s futures’

these impacts of the pandemic. Conservative MPs will now have the chance to step up and vote for our children’s futures.”

Robert Halfon, former minister and Commons education committee chairman, has voiced his concerns over Mr Williamson’s provisions, calling the plans “piecemeal”.

Tory MP Anne-Marie Morris has also questioned whether the Treasury “understands the real world” following reports that Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, blocked pitches from Mr Williamson for extra cash.

Labour said Sir Kevan’s report had found that children were estimated to have lost two to four months of learning during the lockdowns, with pupils expected to leave school with worse GCSEs, while the youngest children are behind on basic literacy and social development.