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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bill to prevent future emergency school closures | Bill to prevent future emergency school closures |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A bid to protect millions of pupils in England from "the disaster" of future school and college shutdowns is being heard in the Commons on Wednesday. | A bid to protect millions of pupils in England from "the disaster" of future school and college shutdowns is being heard in the Commons on Wednesday. |
| Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons Education Committee, is presenting a Bill arguing schools must remain open, as they are "essential infrastructure". | |
| Mr Halfon wants ministers to consult the Children's Commissioner, and allow MPs a vote on any future closure plans. | Mr Halfon wants ministers to consult the Children's Commissioner, and allow MPs a vote on any future closure plans. |
| Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said keeping schools open was his priority. | |
| He told the education committee he would look at Mr Halfon's Bill, but stopped short of backing it. | |
| He added: "Protecting face-to-face learning is my absolute priority. I have no plans whatsoever to close schools again." | |
| He said pupil vaccination and the testing regime was the way he intended to stop schools from needing to close. | |
| School closures since the start of the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in children losing around 58% of all classroom time. | School closures since the start of the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in children losing around 58% of all classroom time. |
| There was one period of lockdown in England from March to July 2020, and a further period at the beginning of 2021. | There was one period of lockdown in England from March to July 2020, and a further period at the beginning of 2021. |
| 'Essential infrastructure' | 'Essential infrastructure' |
| This has led to children missing huge chunks of their education, and has had an impact on mental health and wellbeing. | This has led to children missing huge chunks of their education, and has had an impact on mental health and wellbeing. |
| Mr Halfon says such a huge decision should not be taken by ministers alone. | Mr Halfon says such a huge decision should not be taken by ministers alone. |
| School closures 'put children's lives on hold' | School closures 'put children's lives on hold' |
| School closures will be 'as short as possible' | School closures will be 'as short as possible' |
| The Schools and Education Settings (Essential Infrastructure and Opening During Emergencies) Bill seeks to ensure educational settings - including early years, schools, colleges and universities - are classified as "essential infrastructure". | The Schools and Education Settings (Essential Infrastructure and Opening During Emergencies) Bill seeks to ensure educational settings - including early years, schools, colleges and universities - are classified as "essential infrastructure". |
| This means they would remain open to all students during any public health or other national emergency. | This means they would remain open to all students during any public health or other national emergency. |
| Mr Halfon wants ministers to consult England's Children's Commissioner, who represents children's interests, on whether any regional or national school and education lockdown is appropriate. | Mr Halfon wants ministers to consult England's Children's Commissioner, who represents children's interests, on whether any regional or national school and education lockdown is appropriate. |
| If approved, MPs would then be asked to debate and vote on the issue. | If approved, MPs would then be asked to debate and vote on the issue. |
| 'Triple lock' | 'Triple lock' |
| If that is approved, the matter would have to return to Parliament every three weeks, in case of a further extension. | If that is approved, the matter would have to return to Parliament every three weeks, in case of a further extension. |
| This is being described as a "triple lock". | This is being described as a "triple lock". |
| "Whilst national lockdowns were important to protect the health of the public, school closures have been nothing short of a disaster for our children," said Mr Halfon. | "Whilst national lockdowns were important to protect the health of the public, school closures have been nothing short of a disaster for our children," said Mr Halfon. |
| "By ensuring that any decision taken to close schools is done so following the recommendation of the Children's Commissioner, is agreed and voted on by a majority of Parliament, and is strictly time-limited, we can make sure the best interests of the child are considered at every stage to keep children in school. | "By ensuring that any decision taken to close schools is done so following the recommendation of the Children's Commissioner, is agreed and voted on by a majority of Parliament, and is strictly time-limited, we can make sure the best interests of the child are considered at every stage to keep children in school. |
| "We owe it to our children to safeguard their educational futures, which Covid-19 put on hold." | "We owe it to our children to safeguard their educational futures, which Covid-19 put on hold." |
| Dame Rachel De Souza, Children's Commissioner for England said: "There is no doubt that children paid a high price for their time away from school, and now is the moment to put children at the heart of the recovery from the pandemic. | Dame Rachel De Souza, Children's Commissioner for England said: "There is no doubt that children paid a high price for their time away from school, and now is the moment to put children at the heart of the recovery from the pandemic. |
| "That is why it is absolutely right for us to do all we can to keep schools open for children. | "That is why it is absolutely right for us to do all we can to keep schools open for children. |
| "A 'triple lock' would mean children's needs were considered at every stage to keep children in school." | "A 'triple lock' would mean children's needs were considered at every stage to keep children in school." |
| 'Thrown under a bus' | 'Thrown under a bus' |
| The Bill is also backed by the former Children's Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, who said: "Never again must schools have to compete with pubs, theme parks and Primark to open." | The Bill is also backed by the former Children's Commissioner for England, Anne Longfield, who said: "Never again must schools have to compete with pubs, theme parks and Primark to open." |
| Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Geoff Barton supported the move, adding; "Schools and colleges have been thrown under the bus during the coronavirus pandemic. | Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Geoff Barton supported the move, adding; "Schools and colleges have been thrown under the bus during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| "They have been asked to carry out a range of public health tasks with minimal support from the government, as well as cope with constantly changing guidance and chaotic policy-making." | "They have been asked to carry out a range of public health tasks with minimal support from the government, as well as cope with constantly changing guidance and chaotic policy-making." |
| A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We acted swiftly during the pandemic to minimise the impact on children's education and wellbeing, and help keep pupils in face-to-face education as much as possible. | |
| "Protecting face-to-face learning continues to be an absolute priority. We are now at a different stage in our response to the pandemic thanks to the overwhelming success of the vaccination programme, and there are no plans for schools to close again." | "Protecting face-to-face learning continues to be an absolute priority. We are now at a different stage in our response to the pandemic thanks to the overwhelming success of the vaccination programme, and there are no plans for schools to close again." |