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There are ‘benefits’ to extending school day, says Gavin Williamson
The education secretary Gavin Williamson has suggested that school lunch breaks could be cut by half an hour to give children more time for lessons, amid a tutor funding shortfall.
Ministers are searching for ways to help pupils catch up on time missed due to the coronavirus pandemic without spending the amount of money their advisors say is necessary for extra resources.
The Department for Education has pledged £1.4bn for proposals that include 100 million extra tutoring hours for children in England and more funding for teacher training.
But the proposals fall far short of what the recovery would likely cost, with the government’s own catch-up tsar, Kevan Collins, recommending £15bn.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, described the plan as a “damp squib”, adding: “The funding announced to back these plans is paltry… education recovery cannot be done on the cheap.”
Defending the plans on a media round this morning, Mr Williamson insisted that “no corners have been cut”. He denied that he had failed to secure the necessary funding from Rishi Sunak, the chancellor and suggested school lunch breaks could be condensed to help plug the funding gap.
Kate Green, Labour’s shadow education secretary, said the funding package “makes a mockery” of Boris Johnson‘s claim that education is one of his government’s priorities.
Recovery plan ‘badly lets down children’, Labour says
Labour’s shadow education secretary Kate Green says children have been “badly let down” by the government’s recovery plan.
She said the proposals fail to address parents’ “most worrying concern” around pupils’ emotional wellbeing and their ability to socialise.
“So it’s a very limited announcement, I’m afraid, that the government is making,” the Stretford and Urmston MP told Sky News.
“Children and young people can’t really afford to wait for this government to get a sensible package that will properly address children’s educational recovery and their wellbeing.”
In a separate interview with BBC Breakfast, Ms Green said the government should provide more support for extra-curricular activities.
“Children can’t learn well if they’re worried if they’re anxious if they’re not having time to play and develop,” she added.
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 09:47
School lunch breaks could be cut by half an hour amid funding shortfall
The education secretary, Gavin Willaimson, has suggested that school lunch breaks could be cut by half an hour to give children more time for lessons, amid a tutor funding shortfall.
Ministers are searching for ways to help pupils catch up on time missed due to Covid-19 without spending the amount of money their advisors say is necessary for extra resources.
Our policy correspondent Jone Stone reports:
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 09:10
Schools recovery plan amounts to ‘£50 per pupil’ in England
Gavin Williamson suggested more money will be “required” as the government tackles lost pupil learning during the pandemic.
Put to him that an extra £1.4 billion amounted to £50 per pupil in England, the education secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It is quite unprecedented to be getting this quantum of money outside of a spending review.
“But what we decided we needed to do was deliver interventions and support and invest in children immediately – that’s why we’ve… over the last few months announced a total of over £3 billion in terms of targeted help for children.”
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 08:57
‘No corners cut’ on pupil recovery plan, Williamson insists
Gavin Williamson has insisted “no corners have been cut” in the government’s plan to help pupils catch up on lost learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The education secretary denied that he had failed to secure enough funding from Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, to help children recover from months of lockdown.
When asked by LBC’s Nick Ferrari if the plan had been done “on the cheap”, Mr Williamson replied: “It certainly isn’t, no corners have been cut. We’ve been rolling out this programme; it’s delivering, it’s working”.
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 08:37
Starmer says he’s listening to Blair’s advice of ‘total reconstruction’ to revive Labour
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is listening to Tony Blair’s advice that Labour needs “total deconstruction and reconstruction” to revive as a political force, as he admitted the party’s “titanic” job of winning power.
In an interview with Piers Morgan, the Labour leader also responded to personal questions about his late mother’s illness, his marriage, and his desire to tour the country this summer to hear from voters that had rejected the party at recent elections.
Our politics correspondent Ashley Cowburn has more details:
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 08:11
Government schools catch-up plan ‘will fall at the first hurdle’ due to lack of funding, headteachers warn
Ministers’ plans to help pupils catch up on learning lost due to the Covid-19 crisis is likely to “fall at the first hurdle” because of a lack of funding, headteachers have warned.
The Department for Education has pledged £1.4bn for proposals that include 100 million extra tutoring hours for children in England and more funding for teacher training.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has reports:
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 08:08
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage. We’ll be bringing you all the latest updates from Westminster and elsewhere as the day progresses.
Matt Mathers2 June 2021 08:04
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