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| Schools will reopen in phases, says Williamson | Schools will reopen in phases, says Williamson |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The reopening of schools in England is expected to take place in a "phased manner", says the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. | The reopening of schools in England is expected to take place in a "phased manner", says the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. |
| He told the Education Select Committee the date for opening would depend on scientific advice - but schools would get "as much notice as possible". | He told the Education Select Committee the date for opening would depend on scientific advice - but schools would get "as much notice as possible". |
| But when pupils start returning it could just be for some year groups. | |
| "All schools returning on day one with a full complement of pupils would not be realistic," he told MPs. | "All schools returning on day one with a full complement of pupils would not be realistic," he told MPs. |
| With schools closed by the coronavirus outbreak, the education secretary faced questions on a timetable for re-opening and how to support the disadvantaged, while pupils were meant to be learning online from home. | With schools closed by the coronavirus outbreak, the education secretary faced questions on a timetable for re-opening and how to support the disadvantaged, while pupils were meant to be learning online from home. |
| Committee chair Robert Halfon warned of a "wave of educational poverty" that could come from the lockdown. | Committee chair Robert Halfon warned of a "wave of educational poverty" that could come from the lockdown. |
| Speaking to an online session of the select committee, Mr Williamson said he was keen for schools to return as soon as was safely possible because of the disruption to pupils' learning. | Speaking to an online session of the select committee, Mr Williamson said he was keen for schools to return as soon as was safely possible because of the disruption to pupils' learning. |
| "Every child is going to have suffered from not being in school," he told MPs. | |
| But he said it would be a staged return, with schools given time to prepare. | But he said it would be a staged return, with schools given time to prepare. |
| Last week, Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union suggested that Years 6, 10 and 12 might go back first, with 1 June the earliest realistic date. | Last week, Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union suggested that Years 6, 10 and 12 might go back first, with 1 June the earliest realistic date. |
| The timing will be part of a wider, cross-government plan, Mr Williamson told MPs, with a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) considering how to re-open schools. | The timing will be part of a wider, cross-government plan, Mr Williamson told MPs, with a sub-group of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) considering how to re-open schools. |
| The education secretary said he did not expect this term to be extended into the summer holidays - although committee member David Simmonds suggested some schools were already planning to open over the summer to help pupils catch up. | |
| Mr Williamson gave more details of the scheme to lend laptops to disadvantaged pupils studying at home - saying there would be 200,000 laptops, with the first expected to be delivered by the end of May, with most arriving in June. | Mr Williamson gave more details of the scheme to lend laptops to disadvantaged pupils studying at home - saying there would be 200,000 laptops, with the first expected to be delivered by the end of May, with most arriving in June. |
| This would help to address the "digital divide" in terms of access to computer technology. | |
| Mr Williamson said he had been in discussions with the BBC about putting schools programmes on television, which could help those without internet connections or unable to afford mobile phone data. | |
| The education secretary was challenged by MPs on failings with the free school meal voucher scheme. | The education secretary was challenged by MPs on failings with the free school meal voucher scheme. |
| Ian Mearns said school staff were spending "hours and hours" trying to resolve problems with the system being administered by Edenred. | Ian Mearns said school staff were spending "hours and hours" trying to resolve problems with the system being administered by Edenred. |
| Mr Williamson recognised there had been "big challenges" and the level of service was not what was expected. | Mr Williamson recognised there had been "big challenges" and the level of service was not what was expected. |