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UK coronavirus live: government publishes plan for all schools in England to open full time in September UK coronavirus live: government publishes plan for all schools in England to open full time in September
(32 minutes later)
Education secretary to publish guidance for primary and secondary schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaksEducation secretary to publish guidance for primary and secondary schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks
The Department of Health and Social Care has published its latest weekly test and trace figures.
In Belfast the row about Sinn Féin’s involvement in the funeral of the IRA veteran Bobby Storey, which saw large crowds gathering in apparent breach of social distancing regulations, is escalating. The DUP and the SDLP have both said that Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin leader in Northern Ireland, should step aside from her role as deputy first minister pending an investigation.
The DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said:
And the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said:
Yesterday O’Neill said she was satisfied that her own actions in regard to the funeral were “within the regulations and the public health guidance”.
These are from my colleague Peter Walker on the DfE guidance.
(Peter has a book coming out next year on the health benefits of physical activity. It sounds terrific.)
And the DfE guidance says whole-school closures may not be necessary in England if there are a number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 on site. It says:
Teachers should distance themselves from each other and older students when a full return to school takes place in September, the DfE guidance for all pupils to return to school In England in September says. It says:
GCSE exams could be delayed next year and more optional questions could be used in test papers under proposals unveiled by England’s exams regulator, PA Media reports.GCSE exams could be delayed next year and more optional questions could be used in test papers under proposals unveiled by England’s exams regulator, PA Media reports.
Ofqual has launched a two-week consultation on their plans for the GCSE and A-level exam series in 2021 after students have faced months of school and college closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Ofqual has launched a two-week consultation on their plans for the GCSE and A-level exam series in 2021 after students have faced months of school and college closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The watchdog is considering how next year’s exam timetable could be changed to allow more time for teaching - and one of the proposals being looked at is postponing starting GCSE exams until June 7.The watchdog is considering how next year’s exam timetable could be changed to allow more time for teaching - and one of the proposals being looked at is postponing starting GCSE exams until June 7.
The Department for Education has released a whole set of documents this morning with guidance relating to coronavirus and education, not just the main document featured earlier. (See 10.09am.) Here is the full set.The Department for Education has released a whole set of documents this morning with guidance relating to coronavirus and education, not just the main document featured earlier. (See 10.09am.) Here is the full set.
The news release summarising the plansThe news release summarising the plans
The guidance for mainstream schoolsThe guidance for mainstream schools
The guidance for special schools and other specialist settingsThe guidance for special schools and other specialist settings
The guidance for early years and childcare providersThe guidance for early years and childcare providers
The guidance for FE colleges and providersThe guidance for FE colleges and providers
A letter (pdf) from the DfE to Ofqual about plans for exams next yearA letter (pdf) from the DfE to Ofqual about plans for exams next year
Limits on group sizes will be lifted in nurseries, childminders, and other early years providers from later this month, the Department for Education has said.Limits on group sizes will be lifted in nurseries, childminders, and other early years providers from later this month, the Department for Education has said.
As PA Media reports, early years providers in England have been able to open more widely to children since June 1, but there have been restrictions on group sizes. From July 20, these restrictions will be lifted so that providers can increase the number of children they admit from the start of the summer holiday. As PA Media reports, early years providers in England have been able to open more widely to children since 1 June, but there have been restrictions on group sizes. From July 20, these restrictions will be lifted so that providers can increase the number of children they admit from the start of the summer holiday.
The NAHT, the union for headteachers, has put out a statement saying that, although it supports the aim of getting all pupils in England back to school in September, it thinks the government also needs a “plan B” in case that is not possible. Here is an extract from the statement from the NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman. He says:The NAHT, the union for headteachers, has put out a statement saying that, although it supports the aim of getting all pupils in England back to school in September, it thinks the government also needs a “plan B” in case that is not possible. Here is an extract from the statement from the NAHT general secretary, Paul Whiteman. He says:
The Department for Education has just published its guidance for schools in England on how they should open in full from September. The document is here. It starts:The Department for Education has just published its guidance for schools in England on how they should open in full from September. The document is here. It starts:
Here is my colleague Sally Weale’s preview story based on the leak of a draft of this document available earlier in the week.Here is my colleague Sally Weale’s preview story based on the leak of a draft of this document available earlier in the week.
The Daily Mail has a good scoop. It says Stanley Johnson, the prime minister’s father, has flown to his holiday home in Greece - despite current Foreign Office advice saying Britons should avoid “all but essential international travel”.The Daily Mail has a good scoop. It says Stanley Johnson, the prime minister’s father, has flown to his holiday home in Greece - despite current Foreign Office advice saying Britons should avoid “all but essential international travel”.
Johnson had to fly via Bulgaria because Greece is not accepting direct flights from the UK, the Mail reports.Johnson had to fly via Bulgaria because Greece is not accepting direct flights from the UK, the Mail reports.
Asked to justify his trip, Johnson told the paper:Asked to justify his trip, Johnson told the paper:
Johnson posted a picture of himself at the airport on Instagram:Johnson posted a picture of himself at the airport on Instagram:
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Amelia Hill.Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Amelia Hill.
Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, has just announced that the government is giving an extra £500m to councils in England to help them deal with the coronavirus crisis.Robert Jenrick, the communities secretary, has just announced that the government is giving an extra £500m to councils in England to help them deal with the coronavirus crisis.
He has also announced two further measures to help local authorities: a plan to cover roughly 75% of lost council income; and a scheme to allow them to spread tax deficits over three years instead of one.He has also announced two further measures to help local authorities: a plan to cover roughly 75% of lost council income; and a scheme to allow them to spread tax deficits over three years instead of one.
In a news release from his department Jenrick said:In a news release from his department Jenrick said:
And this is what the news release said about the scheme to reimburse councils in England for lost income.And this is what the news release said about the scheme to reimburse councils in England for lost income.
These measures do not offer councils as much as they claim they need. Earlier this week the Local Government Association published an analysis saying councils faced a funding gap of £7.4bn. But with Jenrick due to address the LGA this afternoon (see 8.18am), this will at least give him some good news to announce.These measures do not offer councils as much as they claim they need. Earlier this week the Local Government Association published an analysis saying councils faced a funding gap of £7.4bn. But with Jenrick due to address the LGA this afternoon (see 8.18am), this will at least give him some good news to announce.
Handing over now to Andrew Sparrow, our political correspondent. Here’s wishing a good morning to you all.Handing over now to Andrew Sparrow, our political correspondent. Here’s wishing a good morning to you all.
Lord Heseltine added:Lord Heseltine added:
Boris Johnson’s economic investment response to the coronavirus crisis has been heavily criticised by Tory former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine, who told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
Heseltine went on to criticise Boris Johnson’s “new deal” speech.
Here’s a lovely video piece from Birmingham that we’ve done on what its like going back to school. Well worth a quick look:
News just in from Severin Carrell, our Scotland editor, that the Scottish National party is to hold a deputy leadership election at Westminster after its current deputy, Kirsty Blackman, stood down citing the pressures of lockdown on her mental health.
Blackman, the MP for Aberdeen North who was reprimanded by Commons officials for bringing her baby into a committee meeting in 2016, and criticised the lack of child-friendly working at Westminster, said she wanted to focus on her family and constituency work.
“Like many others, I’ve struggled with the impact that lockdown has had on my mental health,” she said.
There has been some speculation Blackman was considering running for Holyrood in the 2021 elections.
Hopes of a Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough have given the stock markets a lift this morning. For more on this and all the latest business news, join Graeme Wearden on the business live blog:
So. Putting glitz and glamour firmly put back in its box, let’s look at what’s happening in Westminster today.
The under-fire housing secretary (he’s facing accusations of making an unlawful decision to help a Conservative donor dodge a multimillion-pound tax bill), Robert Jenrick, will address the Local Government Association conference this afternoon at an online event.
He’ll be grilled by councillors at a Q&A - expect questions about the upcoming changes to planning laws (as well as why Jenrick failed to listen to the objections of councillors over the controversial Westferry development.)
Perhaps worth noting is that an announcement on local government funding is expected today. Jenrick has a written statement listed on the Commons order paper.
Meanwhile, Jenrick is also facing a demand to appear before a parliamentary committee to respond to unanswered questions about his relationship with Tory donor Richard Desmond.
My colleague Rajeev Syal has the full details here:
I’m struggling to get some cheery glitz and glamour into today’s live blog - we all like a bit of glamour - but my best effort is a letter penned by Paul McCartney, who has joined 1,500 other artists, including the Rolling Stones and Iron Maiden, to urge Oliver Dowden to step in and help support a music business battered by the pandemic, after festival season was cancelled. The BBC has a write-up. Dowden tweeted a response last night. Penpals in the making, perhaps? One of the perks of being culture secretary.
In what is hardly a break for good news, it might nevertheless be worth stepping back from this morning’s breaking news for just a moment to flag a damning scoop from Channel 4 last night, which revealed the Department of Health issued safety warnings and orders to frontline staff to bin tens of thousands of protective masks and respirators that were deemed unsafe.
Something else that isn’t happening - at least any more - is a tweet from the Treasury that invited Brits to “grab a drink and raise a glass” when pubs open on Saturday. Forced to delete it last night, a screenshot has ensured the department can be still be roundly criticised for the tweet amid fears of alcohol-fuelled carnage at the weekend. TV arguments man Piers Morgan was among those expressing outrage.
If you missed it, here’s the tweet:
And here is our full report:
Now. Before we turn to else is happening today, let’s look at what isn’t happening.
The government has yet again delayed its announcement on which countries Britons can travel to and from without having to quarantine for 14 days on their return.
My colleague Kate Proctor has this report on growing pressure on the government to release the list of countries and end the confusion among holidaymakers:
The British government should prioritise spending on green projects to create jobs and kickstart the economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis, the International Monetary Fund’s chief economist has said.
Gita Gopinath, the IMF’s economic counsellor, said that mounting unemployment triggered by the Covid-19 crisis would require swift action to prevent lasting damage, and that spending on low-carbon projects could be used in response.
Speaking to MPs on the commons Treasury committee, she said countries such as the UK had an opportunity to “do public investment that also addresses the need for a greener planet, and at the same time as a jobs-rich recovery”.