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Question
The MP asked how many schools will not be opening as planned next week due to rising infection rates, and whether there would be sufficient support for remote learning during this period.
Minister reply
The Minister responded that only a small number of areas with the highest infection rates will see limited school openings initially. All other primary schools are scheduled to open on 4 January as planned, while secondary pupils will start testing from 11 January before returning full time by 18 January.
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Question
The MP inquired about the prioritisation of teachers and school staff for vaccination, expressing concern for vulnerable parents and staff.
Minister reply
The Minister confirmed that while clinical priorities determine the first phase of the vaccine roll-out, discussions are ongoing to ensure all school staff can be prioritised for subsequent phases.
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Question
The MP asked about measures being taken to prevent learning loss among pupils due to school closures and the role of technology in bridging gaps.
Minister reply
The Minister stated that ongoing support includes device distribution for remote education, emphasising the importance of digital tools to maintain educational continuity.
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Question
The MP raised concerns about the challenges faced by parents and children due to school closures and asked if flexible furlough options would be available.
Minister reply
The Minister acknowledged the difficulties but did not provide specific details on flexible furlough support for childcare.
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Question
Acknowledges the work of teachers and school staff during challenging circumstances. Questions the Secretary of State's last-minute decisions and their alignment with SAGE advice. Requests prioritisation for teacher vaccinations after NHS front-line workers. Inquires about steps to ensure proper online learning capacity.
Minister reply
Acknowledges rapidly changing situation due to new strain. Emphasises mandatory mass testing in secondary schools and priority for teacher vaccination after clinically vulnerable groups. Announces primary school reopening on 4 January, secondary schools welcoming back exam cohorts on 11 January, and all pupils on 18 January.
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Question
Urges prioritisation of teachers for vaccinations to reduce school closures.
Minister reply
Agrees with the hon. Friend, recognising clinical vulnerability as priority but hopes to vaccinate teaching profession after initial stages.
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Question
Questions delays in mass testing rollout and device delivery. Requests rota powers, funding, devices for schools.
Minister reply
Announces £78 million fund for mass testing, distribution of half a million devices with 50,000 distributed on 4 January and another 100,000 over the following week.
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Mike Wood
Con
Kingswinford and South Staffordshire
Question
Inquires about steps to help schools take up rapid testing offer.
Minister reply
Confirms mass testing implementation in all secondary schools and colleges, supported by armed forces and Ofsted. Announces £78 million fund for support.
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Question
Asks about prioritisation of frontline teaching staff for vaccinations and support for BTEC students.
Minister reply
Acknowledges importance of BTEC qualifications. Hopes that education settings will be high on vaccination list after clinically vulnerable groups.
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Question
Welcomes rapid testing announcement and inquires about use for reducing self-isolation.
Minister reply
Confirms availability of daily testing to reduce isolation, maximising study time.
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Question
Critiques lack of funding and military support for New College Pontefract's mass testing. Requests clear allocation of funds.
Minister reply
Ensures information about available funding will be passed to the right hon. Lady.
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Question
Pays tribute to teachers in her constituency. Asks if London will be part of the contingency framework, and whether schools will definitely reopen after two weeks or if there will be a review at that point.
Minister reply
Clarifies there will be a review after the two-week period based on public health advice. Emphasises decisions should be made locally to minimise disruption.
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Question
Critiques lack of statement before Christmas recess and mixed messages from the Department during that time, expressing doubt about reassurance for parents, teachers, and students. Questions role of local directors of public health, support for schools and colleges, data collection, and need for locally based plans.
Minister reply
Acknowledges importance of working with local directors of public health and authorities to identify cases. Supports rapid testing in areas facing challenges. Data collected from testing will be fed into the test and trace system.
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Question
Asks for assurance that the plan announced will stick, providing certainty to teachers, parents, and pupils about school reopenings and exams.
Minister reply
Confirms primary schools in her constituency opening on Monday, exam year groups returning to secondary schools and colleges on 11 January, with all year groups following shortly after.
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Question
Expresses lack of confidence in the Secretary of State's statement regarding school reopenings during high case rates.
Minister reply
Stresses millions of children have safely returned to school since June, thanks to efforts by teachers and staff. Emphasises mass testing scheme as a means to provide extra confidence for schools reopening.
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Question
Thanks all those working in schools in her constituency for their hard work, particularly during the pandemic.
Minister reply
Joins in thanking those working in education settings across Derbyshire and nationally. Acknowledges more is being asked of them to keep schools open.
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Question
Asks for an update on the tutoring programme, steering group looking at impact on vulnerable pupils, and measures to ensure that the gap between rich and poor households does not widen.
Minister reply
Updates on roll-out of national tutoring programme as per plan. Acknowledges reforms in London under this Government and previous Labour government have been successful. Emphasises importance of continuing reforms to reduce attainment gap.
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Question
Asks if the Secretary of State will consider publishing real-time data influencing decisions via an online dashboard, similar to one published by DHSC, for better planning by schools. Requests meeting with her and a constituent to discuss this in more detail.
Minister reply
Agrees to look at ways to share information more effectively with schools. Arranges for the Minister for School Standards to meet her and her constituent soon.
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Question
Critiques the Secretary of State's handling of school closures and reopening, particularly over Christmas. Questions how the differential impact on disadvantaged children will be addressed and expresses concern about fair exams in 2021.
Minister reply
Defends the government’s response to the pandemic in education, including a £1 billion covid catch-up fund aimed at disadvantaged students.
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Question
Asks if Amber Valley is in the contingency area where schools will not be allowed to open. Requests for criteria on which areas cannot open.
Minister reply
Confirms that details of local authorities within the contingency framework will be published later today and reassures that entering the framework should only happen as a last resort based on public health advice.
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Question
Highlights significant disruption to education this academic year due to missed classes. Asks for an alternative plan beyond the current exam structure and seeks a full equality impact assessment on end-of-year options.
Minister reply
Acknowledges challenges but defends exams as fair assessment methods, mentioning steps taken to support students such as generous grading and advance notice of test areas.
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Question
Thanks the Secretary of State for adopting a pragmatic approach. Expresses concern that disadvantaged children might miss out on education if schools close temporarily. Asks about extra support for quality remote learning.
Minister reply
Reiterates desire to keep all schools open but acknowledges some closures may be necessary, mentions distribution of 1 million laptops and investment in the Oak National Academy.
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Question
Concerned about recurring disruptions in Greater Manchester despite initial success. Asks for a guarantee that past mistakes won't be repeated and seeks assurance of laptop distribution to support remote learning.
Minister reply
Highlights the distribution of 1 million laptops, mentions high school attendance rates last term including areas with high infection rates, and reiterates commitment to testing.
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Question
Thanks teachers for their efforts. Questions about additional support for students in disadvantaged homes and the use of textbooks at cost price to enable remote learning.
Minister reply
Agrees to discuss ideas with Jonathan Gullis, particularly regarding the advocacy of using textbooks by Minister for School Standards.
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Question
Requests stronger guidance in partnership with teachers instead of seeing unions as an enemy. Asks for funding to roll out testing at independent schools.
Minister reply
States that independent schools will receive facilities, testing equipment, etc., but does not provide specific funding.
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Question
Reassures parents of primary school children in tier 4 areas such as Aylesbury regarding the safety of pupils and staff. Asks about decision-making process.
Minister reply
Stresses that pupil and staff safety is a priority, mentions measures on testing to ensure safe learning environment.
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Question
Asks for an update on primary schools reopening in Cheshire West and Chester under tier 4. Asks if teaching staff should be prioritised for the vaccine.
Minister reply
Confirms that primary schools will open in Cheshire West and Chester on Monday.
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Question
Asks for vaccines to be prioritised for teachers and pupils to prevent asymptomatic spread. Urges the Department of Health and Social Care.
Minister reply
Urges prioritisation but mentions that current vaccines have not completed trials on people under 18.
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Question
Inquires about the contingency plan for schools if mass testing shows high infection rates among children. Suggests vaccination as an end solution.
Minister reply
Answers that none of the vaccines have been through full trials on children under 18, so it is not ethical to vaccinate them until completion.
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Question
Supports the approach taken by the Secretary of State. Asks for a re-examination of vaccinations for teachers and staff in tier 3 and 4 areas.
Minister reply
Confirms that he will press his Government colleagues to look again at it.
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Question
Highlights disproportionate learning loss in Liverpool, Riverside. Asks about the distribution of laptops and the national tutoring programme's impact.
Minister reply
Acknowledges the hard work done by teaching staff during lockdowns. Over 500,000 laptops have been distributed to children from disadvantaged backgrounds, with more to come.
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Question
Proposes cancelling exams for students due to sit A-levels and GCSEs in 2021 to avoid exam disruption.
Minister reply
Explains that unless there are exceptional circumstances, exams remain the fairest form of assessment. They benefit children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Question
Asks for criteria determining which schools will not open next week and requests advance warning for headteachers.
Minister reply
Details the gold command chaired by Health Secretary, which decides on measures through joint working. Notice is published on gov.uk.
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Question
Praises the work of education providers in Southend West and asks for clarity regarding testing and exam arrangements.
Minister reply
Thanks educators for their efforts, providing guidance on mass testing and support through funding. The armed forces and Ofsted step forward to assist schools with testing regimes.
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Question
Acknowledges the work of educators in Liverpool and highlights inequality due to Government's response, requesting a meeting to discuss resources needed.
Minister reply
Agrees to meet the headteachers in Liverpool, West Derby to discuss necessary measures from the Government.
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Question
Acknowledges the difficult choices facing the Secretary of State and thanks schools in Hazel Grove for preparing for mass testing. Asks about the message sent by extending the Adjournment.
Minister reply
Thanks teachers for their commitment, focusing on providing as much support as possible to schools.
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Question
Cites Sutton Trust research showing inadequate facilities for remote learning. Inquires about pupils without access in non-reopening schools.
Minister reply
Emphasises the best place for children to learn is school, expanding laptop provision from 200,000 to over 1 million.
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Question
Praises flexibility and determination in keeping schools open. Asks about financial support for disadvantaged children.
Minister reply
Confirms the national tutoring programme and covid catch-up fund are vital for preventing disadvantage among children during the pandemic.
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Question
The MP inquires about the distribution of laptops to children on free school meals, questioning why it has taken so long and requesting information on how many children are deemed to be in need of capacity for home-based learning.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State acknowledges the issue and confirms that he will provide the latest information on laptop distributions. He also explains the recent announcement to increase the distribution from 500,000 laptops to 1 million.
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Question
The MP inquires about the importance of mass testing programmes for schools due to asymptomatic spread among children.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State agrees and highlights that mass testing is crucial because many infected children show no symptoms. He emphasises the importance of identifying such cases early to manage infection rates.
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Question
The MP questions whether there will be adequate testing infrastructure and support in schools when they reopen, asking if staff should be prioritised for vaccines.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State assures that the roll-out of mass testing is well-supported with initial distributions starting on 4 January. He mentions plans to expand testing capabilities including a focus on primary school staff.
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Question
The MP thanks teachers and staff, welcomes rapid test distribution plans for secondary and college students, and asks if military support can be used in schools.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State acknowledges the RAF's role but decides against large-scale military involvement. He explains that financial support is provided instead, with limited military assistance available for exceptional cases.
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Question
The MP praises schools' responses and asks for a review of the level of armed forces support given the pressures in tier 4 areas.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State states that resources are provided for schools to set up their own testing regimes, with additional £78 million allocated. Armed forces personnel will be deployed only under exceptional circumstances.