Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Schools in Kent: Covid-19 — [Mark Pritchard in the Chair]

21 October 2020 · 0 other contributors · 4,291 words

Opened by Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

Responding minister: Nick Gibb

EducationMental Health

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Gordon Henderson raised concerns about schools in kent: covid-19 — [mark pritchard in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP raises concerns about the impact of the pandemic on schools in disadvantaged areas in Kent, highlighting issues with testing delays and insufficient IT equipment.
  • The MP calls for more targeted catch-up funding for deprived areas and fair future examinations despite varying learning experiences during lockdowns.
  • The minister outlines a 1 billion catch-up package and additional allocations for special needs education and pandemic-related expenses in Kent schools.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks for more targeted catch-up funding towards schools in deprived areas and requests assurances that future examinations will be fair despite varying experiences due to potential further lockdowns. He also seeks commitments from Ofsted to consider individual circumstances before assessing schools affected by the pandemic, especially those in disadvantaged areas.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Gordon Henderson Con Sittingbourne and Sheppey

The MP is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on schools, particularly those in disadvantaged areas. He mentions challenges such as delays in testing results for staff and pupils who need to self-isolate, insufficient IT equipment and internet access during lockdown, and inadequate catch-up funding spread too thinly across all pupils. The attainment gap between children from different socio-economic groups has grown since the lockdown, with many disadvantaged pupils least likely to attend lessons online.

Government Response

Nick Gibb

The Government has provided significant financial support to schools in Kent affected by Covid-19. This includes a £1 billion catch-up package, over £4 million allocated specifically for special needs education, and additional funding of £58 million covering claims made between March and July due to pandemic-related expenses. The minister also detailed the distribution of 250,000 laptops and tablets, over 50,000 4G routers, and ongoing work with telecoms companies to improve internet access for disadvantaged families. Remote education initiatives were highlighted, including live online lessons, monitoring systems, and prioritising support for disadvantaged children through the national tutoring programme. Mental health support was mentioned, noting £8 million for training local experts to provide additional advice and resources for schools and colleges in Kent. Routine inspections are planned to resume from January 2021.

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