The Liberal Democrats are calling on to give a “cast-iron guarantee” to parents that
schools will not be shut again as part of the Government’s Covid
winter plan, after the chaos of the last year which saw pupils
miss out on 33 million days of schooling.
The Liberal Democrats are also calling for more funding to ensure
schools can stay open safely as Covid cases rise, including to
improve ventilation and install an air purifier in every
classroom.
The Government still refuses to fund these vital safety measures,
and instead suggested children learn outside in the cold during
the winter months.
Liberal Democrat leader said:
“Our children have been failed by the Conservatives throughout
this pandemic. Pupils have missed out on millions of days of
vital teaching and their parents have been left to pick up the
pieces.
“Boris Johnson must give a cast-iron guarantee to parents that
schools will remain open this winter so that younger generations
aren’t let down yet again.
“More funding and equipment is urgently needed to ensure schools
can stay open safely, including providing an air purifier in
every classroom.
“Instead, Gavin Williamson’s master plan so far seems to be
forcing our children to learn out in the cold. Our children
deserve better than this.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
-
Figures published by the Department for Education show pupils
missed out on an estimated 33 million days of in-person
teaching due to Covid last year - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/attendance-pupils-absence-for-33-million-days-while-schools-opened-in-autumn-term/
-
Government guidance published last month called on schools to
consider teaching children outside if some of them have Covid
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/18/schools-told-hold-classes-outside-five-pupils-have-covid/
