Noted that Back-Bench contributions are limited to six minutes. Mentioned the importance of Members notifying the Speaker’s Office if they need to withdraw for any reason, particularly due to conflicting commitments like supporting England in a match.

Shannon questions Halfon about the mental health crisis facing children due to the pandemic, urging for a strategy by Health Ministers alongside Education Ministers to address children's mental health issues from primary school through college.

Kyle agrees with Halfon on supporting an extended school day but emphasises the need for it to include a broader range of creative activities beyond academics, reflecting Kevan Collins' recent comments during the Education Committee.

The speaker emphasised the importance of recognising and addressing the challenges faced by university students during the pandemic. He highlighted issues such as loneliness, mental health deterioration, and limitations in practical learning experiences. He recommended establishing a covid student learning remediation fund to support universities in providing necessary facilities and equipment for skills development. Additionally, he pointed out that many new students will have missed school experiences and learning opportunities, necessitating an enhanced offer at university.

The speaker stressed the importance of early childhood development during the pandemic. She cited reports indicating significant impacts on parents' ability to cope with pregnancy and beyond due to lockdown restrictions, as well as difficulties in accessing mental health support. She advocated for the establishment of family hubs that offer both physical and virtual multidisciplinary support for families, ensuring a focus on the baby's needs from conception to age two.

Sir Kevan Collins' recommendation of £15 billion was dismissed with only £1.4 billion allocated, causing his resignation. The cuts in Birkenhead equate to a £625 reduction per child, creating another lost generation. Labour's plan proposes £15 billion for recovery, addressing mental health issues and ensuring children do not go hungry.

Acknowledging the Government's efforts to address education recovery with £3 billion in additional funding, including tutoring programmes and teacher training. Welcomes new initiatives such as early years professional development funding for speech and language development and supports the continuation of physical education investment for health benefits.

Welcomes the Department's £3 billion fund but argues it is insufficient. Recommends a £13.5 billion investment to address lost learning and emphasises the need for further education support, advocating for a statutory right to lifelong learning to equip individuals with necessary skills for post-pandemic adaptation.

Concerned about the impact of the coronavirus on disadvantaged children, Richard Holden highlights the importance of ensuring that the attainment gap does not increase. He supports the £3 billion allocated but calls for more resources from the Treasury. He also raises issues related to rural transport and the well-being of teachers and school staff during the pandemic.

Focusing on the Government's response to the pandemic's impact on education, Richard Graham questions whether the additional resources will be enough for those who need help most. He suggests implementing regular lateral flow testing to minimise self-isolation periods and requests clarification on how 'disadvantaged' children will be classified.

Expressed gratitude towards teachers, headteachers, and staff for their work during the pandemic. Acknowledged the importance of education in shaping society's growth and progress. Highlighted that over £3 billion has been allocated to tackle educational issues caused by lockdowns. Welcomed the national tutoring programme which aims to provide 100 million hours of tutoring by 2025 for disadvantaged children to catch up on lost learning due to COVID-19. Emphasised the need for support focused on closing the advantage gap and improving literacy in constituencies with high needs, such as Bury South.

Noted that the clock is not going on for Mr Gibson but asked him to be seated by 4:53 pm. No further substantive contribution made.

Expressed gratitude towards school staff and parents in Darlington for their efforts during the pandemic. Praised the Government’s work to help disadvantaged students, especially those in the north-east. Mentioned that funding from the condition improvement fund will benefit schools in his constituency. Asked the Minister to pay attention to the needs of the Gypsy, Romany, Traveller community and white working-class children as part of the Education Committee's report response.

The pandemic has caused significant disruption to schools, with students facing numerous assessments due to the lack of clear guidance from the Government. Labour criticises the failure to invest in education recovery, citing the slashing of recommended funding by the Chancellor. The Labour party advocates for prioritising children's needs over corporate tax breaks and emphasises the importance of addressing the attainment gap exacerbated by the pandemic.

Congratulated Robert Halfon for opening the debate and acknowledged the importance of education, prioritising disadvantaged children. Emphasised the government's commitment to raise academic standards by driving out low expectations, reducing the disadvantage gap, and focusing on EBacc performance measures. Mentioned investments in family hubs, transforming technical education, strengthening teacher training, and providing substantial funding for catch-up programmes during the pandemic.

Asked Nick Gibb to clarify who will decide which pupils receive what help under the government's schemes, emphasising the need for transparency in how funds are allocated to support disadvantaged children.