Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Schools: Safe Opening and Covid-19

Monday 23 November 2020 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Support for schools to open safely during the covid-19 outbreak includes guidance publication, access to an advice service, and supply of test kits.
  • Schools are using reserve budgets to cover increased supply costs due to teacher self-isolation and cleaning expenses related to covid-19.
  • The Secretary of State agreed to provide figures on the number of pupils sent home for covid-related reasons since the start of the term.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
NHS Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the challenges faced by schools in reopening safely amid a rise in cases.

Question

What support are you providing to schools to help ensure their safe opening during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

To support schools to open fully from the autumn, we published guidance in July and updated it as necessary. Schools have access to an advice service and supply of test kits. By assessing risk and maximising the use of Public Health England-endorsed control measures, schools reduce risk for pupils and staff.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner's follow-up concerns about budget pressures were not addressed in this initial response.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Education
Context

The MP highlights that schools face significant budget pressures due to increased costs related to the pandemic.

Question

Schools are facing huge budget pressures as costs escalate for increased supply cover as teachers self-isolate and from unfunded covid-19 cleaning costs. More than a quarter of all state schools are using reserve budgets to ensure that pupils have devices and access to the internet to study while isolating at home. What assurances can the Secretary of State give that schools will get the funding they need to cover these unforeseen costs?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that important point. We know how important it is. We already outlined a package for the summer term, and tens of millions of pounds have been distributed to schools. We have kept this matter under review and will update the House closely in the near future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assurance or commitment was given regarding ongoing funding needs.

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Kate Green Lab
Education
Context

The MP seeks data on the number of pupils being sent home due to positive cases or self-isolation.

Question

Can the Secretary of State say how many pupils have been sent home from school for covid-related reasons since the start of this term, and of those, how many have been sent home on more than one occasion?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

The hon. Lady raises an important point about the number of pupils being sent home. We keep a close monitor of those children who are sent home and we are working with the sector, so we can provide her with that detail and will send it on to her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete figures were provided; only promised data in follow-up communication.

How: Will Send It On

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Kate Green Lab
Education
Context

The MP is concerned about the impact of repeated absences on learning outcomes and expresses dissatisfaction with the lack of specific figures.

Question

I am disappointed that the Secretary of State does not know those figures. Parents, pupils and teachers have told me of students having been sent home three, four, even five times; some have missed up to one third of their time in school. I am sure the Secretary of State agrees that that will have a disastrous impact on their learning. As we have heard, promised help with laptops and additional costs has not always arrived. School leaders and staff are stressed and exhausted. I support him in wanting pupils to be safely in school, but please will he tell our dedicated and desperate teachers, heads and support staff what he is going to do to support them and keep children learning?

Answer from Gavin Williamson

At every stage, we on the Government side of the House have championed the importance of schools and getting children back into schools. We have done everything we can to support schools to welcome children back. We have done everything we can in terms of the over half a million laptops that are going to be distributed, and are being distributed, to schools to support remote learning. We recognise the fact that children have lost out as a result of this covid pandemic. That is why the Government pledged £1 billion-worth of support to schools to help them catch up that lost learning.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The impact on teachers and specific actions for support were not detailed, only broad statements about supporting children returning to school.

How: Done Everything We Can

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email