Remote Learning And Support For Disadvantaged Pupils

Opened the debate

Mr. Wes Streeting is concerned about the challenges schools face in adapting to remote learning and ensuring that disadvantaged pupils are not left behind during the pandemic. He highlights issues such as the need for additional resources, protective equipment, and measures to ensure school safety and cleanliness. Mr. Streeting also mentions that existing government schemes and funding initiatives may not be adequately targeted towards students from less privileged backgrounds.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir David. I welcome the hon. Member for Ilford North and congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent North on introducing the debate. Since 2010, education policy has focused on closing the attainment gap, which has been reduced by 13% in primary schools and 9% in secondary schools since 2011. The Government have secured £1 billion of catch-up funding, with £350 million targeted at disadvantaged pupils through the national tutoring programme. Despite rising rates of coronavirus, the Government will not ask schools to close. School attendance is mandatory, and parents are legally required to ensure their children attend school regularly under section 7 of the Education Act 1996. Schools and local authorities can use a range of measures if a child's attendance becomes problematic, including parenting contracts, orders, and prosecution as a last resort under section 444 of the Education Act 1996. We trust schools to consider each pupil's circumstances sensitively and encourage parents to work with their school to develop an action plan for addressing absence issues. Where children are unable to attend due to public or clinical health advice, parents will not be penalised. Schools have been discussing concerns with families to provide reassurance. The Government remain committed to tackling mental health problems by implementing the joint Green Paper and introducing new mental health support teams linked to schools and colleges. We have set out a clear framework for protective measures in schools, including ensuring that symptomatic individuals do not attend school, following robust hygiene measures, enhancing cleaning arrangements, minimising contact between individuals, engaging with NHS Test and Trace, and providing test kits for those who develop symptoms on site. For pupils unable to attend school due to coronavirus, the Government have made a temporary continuity direction to clarify schools' duty to provide remote education in line with guidance and law. To support this, the Department has invested more than £195 million in supporting remote education and delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children. An additional 340,000 devices are being made available to support children who may face disruption to their education this term.