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UK coronavirus live: government publishes plan for all schools in England to open full time in September UK coronavirus live: getting schools back to normal is critical for national recovery, Williamson tells MPs
(32 minutes later)
Education secretary to publish guidance for primary and secondary schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks Education secretary makes statement on guidance for schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks as they’re set to reopen in September
The National Education Union says that Ofqual is being “unrealistic” in assuming that exams in England can go ahead next summer largely as normal, despite the months of teaching time lost as a result of the lockdown. In a response to the Ofqual consultation announced today (see 10.47am), Nansi Ellis, the NEU assistant general secretary, said:
Labour’s Helen Hayes asks how tutoring can take place over the summer when many of the most disadvantaged pupils do not have access to a laptop.
Williamson claims 202,000 laptops are being provided to pupils in this category.
Robert Halfon, the Conservative chair of the Commons education committee, says he welcomes the announcement today.
Referring to research saying four in 10 pupils have not been in regular contact with teachers during the lockdown, he asks if Williamson will investigate why this was.
Williamson says he will ask Ofsted to investigate. He says this is important because there will be further local lockdowns.
Williamson is responding to Green.
He says the Covid catch-up fund will involve new money. He says schools will get more details in due course.
He says £350m of the extra money going to schools for catch-up is being ring-fenced for the most disadvantaged children.
On consultation, he says the government continues to consult widely, and not just with the unions.
Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, is responding to Williamson now.
She says for too long the government has been asleep at the wheel. Today’s guidance comes just three weeks before the end of term, she says.
She says staff will need a break over the summer.
What consultation has there been with teachers?
Will there be support for parents if schools have to close?
Will Ofqual address the gap between pupils who have had teaching during lockdown and those who have not?
Does Williamson agree that, if schools have to fund 25% of the cost of the catch-up tutoring programme, wealthier schools will benefit?
What is in place for the summer break?
Williamson told MPs “education recovery is critical for this generation” of schoolchildren, adding in a statement to the Commons:
He said the government is working to ensure all pupils can return to schools and colleges full-time in September, noting: “With Covid-secure measures in place so they have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their full potential.”
He said schools will continue minimising contact between children, including through grouping them in “bubbles” and encouraging older children to distance. He went on:
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary for England, is making a Commons statement now about the new guidance for schools on how all pupils can return in September.
He says all schools will be provided with a small number of home testing kits for pupils or staff who develop symptoms.
Today’s bulletin (pdf) with the weekly test and trace figures contain, for the first time, data from the government on how many coronavirus tests are completed within 24 hours. Boris Johnson promised that by the end of June all results would be delivered within 24 hours, “except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that”.Today’s bulletin (pdf) with the weekly test and trace figures contain, for the first time, data from the government on how many coronavirus tests are completed within 24 hours. Boris Johnson promised that by the end of June all results would be delivered within 24 hours, “except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that”.
Today’s figures do not show whether or not that target was met, because they only go up to the week ending 24 June. But at that point the government was still quite some way off reaching it.Today’s figures do not show whether or not that target was met, because they only go up to the week ending 24 June. But at that point the government was still quite some way off reaching it.
For regional test sites (drive-through and walk-through testing centres), 71.8% of test results were delivered within 24 hours of the test being taken in the week ending 24 June.For regional test sites (drive-through and walk-through testing centres), 71.8% of test results were delivered within 24 hours of the test being taken in the week ending 24 June.
For mobile testing units, the figure was 60.6%.For mobile testing units, the figure was 60.6%.
The figures were much lower for satellite test centres (21.5%) and for home testing kits (9.3%) - but these are reliant on the postal service (which means they are arguably not covered by the Johnson promise).The figures were much lower for satellite test centres (21.5%) and for home testing kits (9.3%) - but these are reliant on the postal service (which means they are arguably not covered by the Johnson promise).
However, in the report there is a hint that the government is redefining what a 24-hour results target actually means. On regional test sites, it says this:However, in the report there is a hint that the government is redefining what a 24-hour results target actually means. On regional test sites, it says this:
That implies “within 24 hours” is being redefined to mean “by the end of the following day”.That implies “within 24 hours” is being redefined to mean “by the end of the following day”.
Kate Green, the new shadow education secretary (replacing Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was sacked last week), has called for the creation of a cross-party taskforce to help schools in England prepare for all pupils to return in September. In a statement she said:Kate Green, the new shadow education secretary (replacing Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was sacked last week), has called for the creation of a cross-party taskforce to help schools in England prepare for all pupils to return in September. In a statement she said:
The Department of Health and Social Care has published its latest weekly test and trace figures.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 physical 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.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 physical 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:The DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said:
And the SDLP leader Colum Eastwood 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”.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.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.)(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: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.
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 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 plans
The guidance for mainstream schools
The guidance for special schools and other specialist settings
The guidance for early years and childcare providers
The guidance for FE colleges and providers
A 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.
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 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.
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.
Asked to justify his trip, Johnson told the paper:
Johnson posted a picture of himself at the airport on Instagram:
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.
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:
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.
Handing over now to Andrew Sparrow, our political correspondent. Here’s wishing a good morning to you all.
Lord Heseltine added: