Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Covid-19: Additional Costs to Schools

Monday 18 January 2021 · 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 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Financial support of 102 million has been provided to schools for exceptional costs during the first lockdown in 2020.
  • A three-year funding settlement for schools includes a 4% increase in funding for the next financial year.
  • A 1 billion catch-up fund and the covid workforce fund have been secured for the current year to support schools.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Education
Context

The MP inquired about the financial burden on schools due to the coronavirus outbreak, particularly the additional costs incurred.

Question

What financial support his Department is providing to schools to fund additional costs relating to the covid-19 outbreak. Schools have faced significant expenses to ensure safety and continue operations amid the pandemic.

Answer from Nick Gibb

Some £102 million of funding for exceptional covid-related costs incurred by schools in the first lockdown period of March to July 2020 has already been distributed to schools, and for November and December, schools under financial pressure that have exceptional additional staffing costs due to covid-related absences have been able to claim from the covid workforce fund.

Answered
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Q2 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Education
Context

The MP expressed concern over Twickenham schools facing significant costs to maintain safety and operations, coupled with revenue losses from lettings and fundraising. The schools are struggling financially without substantial reserves or local council assistance.

Question

I am grateful to the Minister for his response. He is aware from our discussions that many Twickenham schools have incurred significant one-off and ongoing costs to become covid secure that they have not been able to reclaim, at the same time as losing tens of thousands of pounds from lettings and fundraising. Many of them do not have significant cash reserves to rely on, nor does the council have the money to bail them out, so if schools are to reopen fully and safely as soon as possible, could the Minister please advise which staff and activities he thinks are expendable so that they can make ends meet?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The hon. Member will be aware that we secured a three-year funding settlement for schools, with a 4% increase in funding for the next financial year, and we have also secured for this year a £1 billion catch-up fund and the covid workforce fund. If a school is genuinely in financial difficulties, it should talk to the local authority if it is a maintained school, or to the Education and Skills Funding Agency if it is an academy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for specific advice on staff cuts but received general statements about funding settlements without addressing expendable staff directly.

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