Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to Education: Local Lockdowns

Monday 12 October 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is committed to ensuring high quality education for all pupils during local covid-19 lockdowns.
  • Every school has been instructed to plan for local restrictions to maintain continuity of education.
  • The Secretary of State highlighted the work of Penn Fields School and Wightwick Hall School, recognizing their service to vulnerable children and those with complex needs.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stuart Anderson Con South Shropshire
Education
Context

No specific background event or statistic is provided. The question focuses on the continuation of high quality education for all pupils during potential local restrictions.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure that access to education for all children is maintained during local covid-19 lockdowns?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

The Department is committed to the continuation of high quality education for all pupils. We have asked that every school plan for the possibility of local restrictions to ensure continuity of education. We have published a direction, which provides an express legal duty on schools to provide remote education where needed.

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Q2 Stuart Anderson Con South Shropshire
Children & Families
Context

The question is part of the 'level up' mission, aiming to ensure that every child has the necessary resources and support. It specifically mentions Penn Fields School in the constituency.

Question

In our mission to level up, I am keen to ensure that every child has the resources and support that they need to thrive. What is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that the most vulnerable children and those with complex needs, such as the wonderful children at Penn Fields in my constituency, can have everything that they need to thrive during this time?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

My hon. Friend and constituency neighbour is right to highlight the brilliant work at Penn Fields School that serves not only his constituents, but mine as well. I will, if I may, also highlight the wonderful work of Wightwick Hall School, which is in my constituency and also serves his constituents as well. They are doing an amazing job during this pandemic, but it is right to ask how we can support them more. That is why, in terms of covid catch-up funding, the support that we are providing for those special schools is three times the rate of that going to mainstream schools, which recognises the extra challenges that they have to deal with.

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