Education ministers were taking questions in the Commons. Subjects
covered included...
To read any of these in greater detail, either click on the link
above or see below.
Covid-19: Home Learning
(York Outer) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges are
partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. [902238]
(Amber Valley) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges
are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
[902239]
(Bassetlaw) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges
are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
[902241]
(Ashfield) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges
are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
[902242]
(Meon Valley) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges
are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
[902249]
(South Suffolk) (Con)
What steps he is taking to support children and young people to
continue learning at home while nurseries, schools and colleges
are partially closed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
[902254]
The Secretary of State for Education ()
I am determined to help learning continue in these challenging
times. We have committed over £100 million to provide devices and
internet access to vulnerable children and published a list of
high-quality online educational resources, and we continue to
support parents and teachers in supporting children at home.
[V]
Headteachers in York have told me of their frustration that they
will have to wait at least another month until they can provide
students with laptops under the Government’s scheme. What
assurances can my right hon. Friend give me that support will be
available to schools in the meantime to help their most
disadvantaged students learn from home?
As I am sure my hon. Friend will understand, £100 million for
computers and other support for schools is a major investment,
and it takes a while for these resources to arrive at schools. We
have already notified multi-academy trusts and local authorities
of what resources they will be getting, and we continue to work
to provide resources, with the BBC providing resources in the
homes of children right across the country.
[V]
Parents across Amber Valley have been doing a fantastic job of
supporting their children to continue to learn while their
schools are closed. Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking
them and set out what more we can do to support them to help
their children continue to learn?
I would very much like to join my hon. Friend in thanking the
teachers and all the support staff who have done so much to
support home learning and ensure that schools remain open for the
children of critical workers and the most vulnerable children. We
have seen the launch of the Oak National Academy, which is
providing educational resources for children of all ages to
support them in their learning, and we are looking at putting
more and more resources online, to help schools and, most
importantly, to help children continue to learn.
[V]
I very much welcome the funding for IT equipment, because there
is nothing worse than when computer says no. Can my right hon.
Friend confirm that the laptops and tablets provided to
disadvantaged and vulnerable young people will not just benefit
them while schools are closed, but will continue to be used by
their schools to aid learning in the future?
My hon. Friend is right in his analysis. It is not just about
helping children during this crisis; it is about helping and
supporting children for many months and years to come, ensuring
that schools continue to have that resource and helping many
children through that resource over a long period. We recognise
that a lot of work needs to be done to support children as they
catch up on what they have missed, because there is no substitute
for a child being in a classroom, learning directly from a
teacher.
[V]
School closures will, of course, affect children of all ages and
backgrounds in different ways. Children from more disadvantaged
backgrounds are much less likely to have access to the internet
via a mobile or tablet. Will the Secretary of State confirm that
devices with internet access are being sent to disadvantaged
children, so that they can learn online more easily? That would
certainly help to ensure that the disadvantaged children in my
constituency of Ashfield and Eastwood, which the Minister visited
recently, are not further disadvantaged by this crisis.
I had the great privilege of joining my hon. Friend on a visit to
Leamington primary school in his constituency, to see the amazing
work being done there. We have made substantial investment in not
just laptops but 4G routers, to ensure that families have better
access to the internet and that children can benefit from the
brilliant resources, many of which have been made available for
free by people, companies and organisations, to allow children to
continue to learn.
Mrs Drummond [V]
Will my right hon. Friend join me in congratulating schools in
Hampshire on their success in ensuring that 31% of vulnerable
children are attending school, and in thanking all the teachers,
school staff and children, particularly those in Meon Valley, for
their hard work both in school and at home? Has he assessed the
impact on the mental health of children and young people during
the coronavirus crisis?
I do indeed join my hon. Friend in thanking the teachers, the
support staff, the social workers, Hampshire County Council and
all those who have been involved in making sure that schools stay
open and available for vulnerable children. They have done
amazing work. The attendance rate she highlights is truly
outstanding. Since the Easter holidays, we have seen a doubling
of the number of vulnerable children who are attending school,
and that is down to the work of teachers, school staff and social
workers, reaching out and encouraging them to come into school.
Mental health, which my hon. Friend also raised, is an important
issue. That is why we have committed £5 million of funding to
support charities to help children with mental health concerns
and issues while they are at home.
[V]
While schools are closed, the issues of home-school transport
affecting my constituents have effectively been paused, but they
will come back eventually and potentially result, for example, in
siblings having to go to separate schools. Although this is a
county council matter, the Government issued a consultation on
home-school transport last October, and five Suffolk MPs,
including me, wrote to the Government asking them to consider
changing the guidelines to state that siblings should not be
separated by changes in school transport policy. Has my right
hon. Friend had time to consider that consultation, and will he
publish the response soon?
The consultation closed in October last year. We were hit by twin
issues of purdah being imposed and now, obviously, our principal
focus being on dealing with the coronavirus. We hope to respond
to the consultation in the near future, but I am not currently in
a position to give my hon. Friend an exact date.
(Salford and Eccles)
(Lab)
Constant speculation on when schools will reopen and whether it
is safe to do so is leaving many parents, pupils and staff
anxious. Last week, it was reported that the Government were
looking at best practice in other countries; this weekend, it was
reported that the Government would reopen schools for year 6
pupils on 1 June; and last night, it was reported that there were
discussions in Government about giving schools and multi-academy
trusts the flexibility to decide for themselves, amid concerns
that Ministers were coming under pressure to help to kick-start
the economy. I am sure the Secretary of State will want to
reassure parents, pupils and staff that their safety is the
Government’s No. 1 priority, so will he clarify the basis on
which the Government are making decisions on school and college
opening, and when will he make the scientific advice supporting
his strategy publicly available?
First, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. Lady
on her new appointment. I appreciate the time she has made
available to speak with me, and I hope the regular briefings from
officials that we are providing are of considerable assistance to
her, as I think they were to her predecessor.
All SAGE advice is made public, and we will certainly do that. On
the return of schools, I am sure the hon. Lady shares my desire
for children to be given the opportunity to return to school when
it is the right time to do so. The decision will be based on the
scientific and medical advice that we receive. I assure her that
we will take a phased approach to reopening schools, and we will
always aim to give schools, parents and, critically, children
maximum notice of when that will happen.
I thank the Secretary of State for his kind comments. He must
understand that faith that children and staff are safe will be
necessary to parents having the confidence to send their children
to school, but nearly 1 million pupils in English schools are in
classes of 31 or more—an increase of 28% since 2010—so there is
understandable concern that social distancing will be difficult
in schools. Everyone wants a return to vital education to support
pupils and to stop the ever-widening attainment gap, but does the
Secretary of State agree that first we need a national plan for
social distancing and personal protective equipment, evidence of
a sustained downward trend in cases, comprehensive access to
testing for staff and pupils, a whole-school strategy for when
cases emerge, and protection for the vulnerable? In the words of
the National Education Union:
“Anything else will be a dereliction of duty from government”.
I think the hon. Lady would very much appreciate the fact that I
take my responsibilities for the safety and the health of
children who attend school as the absolute principal motivation
for everything I do, as is the case for those who work in
schools. I always welcome constructive dialogue with her, which
is why we have made every effort to do so, about how best we can
support children to be in schools. Let us not forget that the
overwhelming majority of schools—over three quarters of them—are
currently operating in a safe, considered and proper way,
supporting the children of critical workers as well as those
children who are most vulnerable in society. Every step we take
is about making sure that we look after those who are the most
important part of our society, and that is our children, but also
about supporting those who work in educational settings.
Covid-19: Vulnerable Children
(Crawley) (Con)
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that vulnerable
children are identified and supported during the covid-19
outbreak. [902244]
The Secretary of State for Education ()
Schools remain open to children in care, and local authority
virtual school heads are actively tailoring their expert offer of
advice and support to all children on what they are learning in
schools. For those not attending, we have made it clear to local
authorities and schools that they should be doing everything they
can to maintain contact with and support for children not
attending school.
[V]
What specific support during the covid-19 pandemic is being
provided for children in care and children with special
educational needs, such as dyslexia?
We have been working right across the sector to make it
absolutely clear that we understand the need for very specific,
tailor-made guidance for a lot of children in special educational
needs settings. We have been working with special schools to be
able to provide that. We have also been providing tailored
advice, support and resources online for children with a whole
spectrum and range of special educational needs, as well as on
how we support families to give education at home.
Mr Speaker
I welcome to the Front Bench. I call the
shadow Minister.
(Hampstead and Kilburn)
(Lab)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Last week, the Children’s Commissioner for
England, Anne Longfield, said that the Government’s latest
reduction in legal protections for children in care without
proper scrutiny or an opportunity to scrutinise was not
justified, given that the staffing in social care is “holding
up”. The Labour party agrees with the Children’s Commissioner for
England. Does the Secretary of State also agree with the
Children’s Commissioner for England?
On the regulations we have laid, we worked very closely with the
ADCS—the Association of Directors of Children’s Services—on how
we make sure we do everything we can to maintain the very best
support for all children when they are in care. It and the sector
have specifically asked us to make sure that some flexibilities
are made available to them. This is a temporary measure that we
have taken in response to concerns that people have raised about
making sure they are able to provide the best care for the most
vulnerable children. It is certainly not something that is going
to be continued once we are through this crisis.
(Harlow) (Con) [V]
First, will my right hon. Friend thank the teachers and support
staff of Harlow, who have been doing everything possible to teach
children of critical workers and vulnerable children over the
past few weeks? Given that only 5% of vulnerable children are
being educated in schools, nearly 50% of under-16s are
potentially being exposed to online harms and possibly two thirds
are not accessing online education, does my right hon. Friend
agree that a catch-up premium, with tuition, mentoring and
wellbeing, will be necessary for these vulnerable children as
schools begin to reopen once again?
I certainly will join my right hon. Friend in paying tribute to
the teachers and all those who work in schools not only in Harlow
but right throughout the country for the amazing work that they
are currently undertaking.
We are working closely on how we ensure that every child in this
country has the ability to catch up, and I was interested to hear
my right hon. Friend’s ideas. We are looking into how we can take
forward some of those concepts, including the enormous good will
among the British public, to help to support children to make
sure that they do not miss out as a result of this crisis. We
need to make sure that that is not just an idea but actually
becomes a reality.
T-levels
(St Austell and Newquay)
(Con)
What assessment he has made of the potential effect of the
introduction of T-levels on the (a) quality and (b) recognition
of technical education. [902253]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
()
T-levels are based on the best international examples of
technical education and, crucially, they are employer designed.
They will help to raise the quality and prestige of technical
education across the UK, with longer teaching hours and a
meaningful industry placement. I am confident that they will
provide a high-quality alternative to A-levels, giving technical
education the status and recognition that it deserves.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that answer. It is clear that T-levels
will have a valuable part to play in ensuring that we have the
workforce of the future across the economy, but the sector of the
economy that is being most adversely affected by the current
crisis is hospitality, and it is vital that that sector is able
to access the workforce that it will need to recover,
particularly in a post-Brexit world, so will the Minister please
consider bringing forward a T-level in hospitality as soon as
possible?
I agree with my hon. Friend: equipping people with the skills
that they need is crucial to our economic recovery, particularly
in St Austell and Newquay. To support tourism and hospitality,
which are important to his constituency, we will offer T-levels
in cultural heritage and visitor attractions, catering, and
management and administration. I hope that, with my hon. Friend’s
support, T-levels will be available soon so that young people in
St Austell and Newquay can benefit from a high-quality technical
education.
Covid-19: Further and Higher Education
(Edinburgh South West)
(SNP)
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support
for the further and higher education sectors during the covid-19
outbreak. [902245]
(Midlothian) (SNP)
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on support
for the further and higher education sectors during the covid-19
outbreak. [902246]
The Minister for Universities () [V]
I take this opportunity to thank all staff in the further and
higher education sector for their hard work in responding to this
unprecedented challenge. I reassure the House that we have
protected grant funding for the FE sector for the full year, and
we will provide additional targeted support. Yesterday, we
announced an HE package of measures to boost support for
students, stabilise the admissions system and ease pressures on
universities’ finances.
[V]
I thank the Minister for her answer. A survey by the National
Union of Students has shown that 85% of working students will
need additional financial support after losing their jobs as a
result of the current crisis. With rent being the most
significant financial demand on students, will the Minister tell
us what discussions she has had with the private rental sector to
ensure that students are not being charged for rooms that are
lying empty?
We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone,
including students, which is why we have worked with the Office
for Students to help providers. We have reallocated funds
totalling £46 million for April and May for hardship funds for
students. On accommodation specifically, we have sent the clear
message that accommodation providers need to be fair and
transparent in their policies for students. The Treasury has
announced additional measures to protect renters who are tenants.
[V]
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading Roslin
Institute in my constituency are at the very heart of the global
fight to find solutions for covid-19, but such higher education
institutions are struggling to get the support that they need
through existing Government schemes. Given the complexities of
the funding models for higher education and the immense impact of
the lockdown on such institutions’ current and future finances,
will the UK Government provide a support package specifically
tailored for jobs in the higher education sector, to support the
economy and their covid-19-fighting efforts? What additional
support is the Minister seeking to support research groups
throughout the UK?
We should not underestimate the impact of the package that we
announced yesterday, which builds on the Treasury announcement
that universities are eligible for Government financial support
worth at least £700 million. This package also brought forward
£100 million of research funding. We have also brought forward
£2.6 billion in tuition fees to help with cash flow. Most
fundamentally, this is a package that is designed to stabilise
the higher education sector and safeguard it as a whole.
(Glasgow North West) (SNP)
[V]
May I take this opportunity to welcome the new Labour Front-Bench
team to their positions and also to pay tribute to all those
working in the education sector to support our young people
through this pandemic?
The £100 million of quality-related research funding that the
Minister has just referred to is research for England. Can the
Minister confirm that this is indeed new funding and that these
increases to the English QR grants will deliver Barnett
consequentials for universities in Scotland?
I can confirm that this is QR funding that has been brought
forward for English universities, but the hon. Member will have
noted in the announcement yesterday that it also included a
research taskforce designed to prioritise safeguarding our
research base. That is a cross-governmental taskforce on which
the devolved Administration Ministers will have a seat.
Early Years Sector
(Witney) (Con)
What steps the Government is taking to support the early years
sector. [R] [902240]
(Birmingham, Selly Oak)
(Lab)
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of support
available to childcare providers and nurseries during the
covid-19 outbreak. [902243]
(Worsley and Eccles South)
(Lab)
What assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the
coronavirus job retention scheme on the ability of nurseries and
childcare providers to retain staff. [902248]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
() [V]
We have two key priorities at this time: making sure that there
is sufficient childcare for critical workers and vulnerable
children; and ensuring the longer-term sustainability of the
vital early years sector. Therefore, the Government will continue
paying local authorities for the hours that we normally fund,
and, where appropriate, providers can also access business rates
relief, grants, a business interruption loan and the
self-employment support scheme, which is especially helpful for
childminders. In order to retain staff, providers can also
furlough up to the proportion of their salary bill that would
normally be considered as being paid from non-public funding
sources.
[V]
I thank the Minister for that answer. With a young son at a local
nursery—I declare that interest—I am acutely aware of the
pressures faced by early years providers at this time. The
Government said that they expect childcare providers and local
authorities to work together to ensure sufficient childcare for
children of critical workers and vulnerable children, but will
the Minister also confirm that she will do everything in her
power to support our vital early years providers, including
meeting representatives to understand what more it might be
possible for her Department to do?
My officials and I are in continual contact with early years
sector organisations through regular meetings and working groups
and feed their messages right into the heart of Government. We
have put £3.6 billion into the sector through funding the
entitlements this year and will continue to ensure that providers
get the best possible support on the many different Government
schemes while also staying within the rules. We also have a new
announcement for parents. Parents who are normally eligible for
the Government’s free childcare will continue to be eligible for
those entitlements during this summer term, even if their income
levels have changed because of the virus. This will be a massive
support to families as well as to providers.
[V]
Nurseries and childcare providers have struggled to stay open
during this crisis. The Minister will know that the confusion
over the Department for Education statements on free entitlement
and the furlough scheme has caused many financial headaches. Last
week, the First Secretary of State said at PMQs that if those
providers were finding it too much to bear, the Government will
look “afresh” at what can be done. Can the Minister tell me when
the Secretary of State will look afresh at what needs to be done,
and, given that the Minister is regularly in touch with
nurseries, will she tell me the last time that she spoke to the
nurseries and childcare providers in my constituency, because
they do not seem to know about plans to rescue their provision?
[V]
I spoke to early years organisations only last week, and speak to
them on a weekly basis through my officials and in meetings that
I join regularly. On the coronavirus job retention scheme, the
initial guidelines were first published by the Government on 26
March. I am sure that Members understand that it would not be
right for providers—or, indeed, any business—to receive two
Government incomes for the same costs. We have worked closely
with the sector to clarify this position, and will always make
sure that early years providers get the best support possible.
This will be an important discussion at the next spending review—
Mr Speaker
Order.
(Worsley and Eccles South)
(Lab) [V]
Changing the guidance on the job retention scheme at the last
minute has pulled the rug from underneath many nurseries and
childcare providers. A survey by the Professional Association for
Childcare and Early Years has found that 40% of childminders are
not confident that their business will survive this crisis.
Despite the answers that the Minister has given, there is a lot
of confusion. Will she do the right thing and bring forward a
comprehensive plan to protect the childcare sector during this
difficult time?
Mr Speaker
Let us have a brief answer from the Minister.
[V]
The guidelines were first published on 26 March, and we will
continue to work with the sector to provide clarity to ensure
that it can access, as far as possible, every single set of
Government support that is available at this time. We will
continue to work on supporting this vital sector.
