NEU comments on £1 billion additional funding for schools: Covid-19

Commenting on the funding announced by Government, Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: 

"This billion pounds for schools in England is a welcome recognition of the importance of education.

"However, if social distancing is still required in September a full time return to education means Government will have to find extra education staff and extra teaching spaces.

"The Government must urgently engage with unions and others in the sector to plan for such a return - the National Education Union’s 10-point-plan is a good place to start. (1)

"The Government should right now be working on a Summer Holiday Local Offer, on delivering broadband to all those children who still need it and reading books to all children in receipt of free school meals. (2)”

ENDS

Editor’s Note

(1) NEU's 10 point National Education Recovery Plan: https://neu.org.uk/coronavirus-neu-national-recovery-plan-education

(2) Summer Holiday Local Offer: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/coronavirus-funding-2020-summer-holiday-local-offer