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| UK coronavirus live: getting schools back to normal is critical for national recovery, Williamson tells MPs | UK coronavirus live: getting schools back to normal is critical for national recovery, Williamson tells MPs |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Education secretary makes statement on guidance for schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks as they’re set to reopen in September | Education secretary makes statement on guidance for schools on how to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks as they’re set to reopen in September |
| Nicola Sturgeon has announced there will be a temporary freezing of lockdown rules around a number of towns in Dumfries and Galloway after an outbreak of cases, after an outbreak straddling the border with England. | |
| While many rules would be easing across Scotland this weekend, Sturgeon said people living around towns including Gretna, Annan, Dumfries, Lockerbie and Canonbie were still required to stay within five miles of their homes, while outdoor restaurants and care homes would remain closed to visitors. | |
| She said 10 new cases had emerged, with three businesses affected, and mobile testing units were being deployed while local health officials launched a concerted contact tracing effort. Those restrictions would remain in place until next week at the earliest. | |
| For the rest of Scotland, outdoor cafes and beer gardens will be allowed to reopen from Monday, after the R number, the rate of infection from coronavirus remained at 0.6 to 0.8, with only about 1,500 people in Scotland thought to be infected. | |
| From 10 July, face masks would be mandatory in all Scotland’s shops, she added, following similar requirements (which anecdotal evidence suggests has been frequently ignored by passengers) on public transport and in taxis. | |
| Sturgeon said there would be no immediate cuts in the 2m social distancing rules to 1m or 1.5m, because her government’s scientific advice showed the risks of transmitting Covid-19 were too high. That would be eased soon, with customers warned they were entering a 1m zone. | |
| Sturgeon also urged residents of south west Scotland to avoid travelling to pubs and restaurants in England while the local lockdown was in place. | |
| Here are the main points from Gavin Williamson’s opening statement to MPs about the new guidance for all pupils in England to return to school in September. | |
| Williamson said having schools return to normal was “critical to our national recovery”. He said: | |
| He said “as a minimum” whole year groups would have to be kept separate. | |
| He said all schools and colleges would be issued with a small number of testing kits for pupils or staff who develop symptoms. He said: | |
| He said it was his intention for Ofsted inspections to resume from January 2021. | |
| He said from 20 July nurseries and childminders would no longer have to place limits on the number of children able to learn and play together. | |
| According to the DfE guidance, schools should consider holding music lessons or classes outside, perhaps with pupils sitting back to back. It says: | |
| In the Commons Richard Burgon, the Labour MP, asks for an assurance that government scientists have signed off today’s advice as safe. | |
| Williamson says Public Health England has signed off the new guidance. | |
| 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: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 says he will ask Ofsted to investigate. He says this is important because there will be further local lockdowns. |
| Williamson is responding to Green. | 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 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | She says staff will need a break over the summer. |
| What consultation has there been with teachers? | What consultation has there been with teachers? |
| Will there be support for parents if schools have to close? | 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? | 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? | 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? | 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: | 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 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: | 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. | 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. | 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: |