Education recovery must recognise unprecedented challenges in schools, says NASUWT

Responding to the appointment of Sir Kevan Collins as Education Recovery Commissioner, NASUWT General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said:

“The NASUWT has been clear throughout the pandemic that the best place for children and young people to receive their educational entitlement is in school.

“Children should be allowed to return as soon as it can be demonstrated that it is safe for them and school staff to do so.

“Notwithstanding the commitment, dedication and professionalism of teachers and school leaders in providing high quality learning offers during the crisis, it is beyond doubt that the disruption that the pandemic has caused has had a profound impact not only on the educational progress and achievement of many children and young people but also on their emotional and mental wellbeing.

“It is important that as part of efforts to build a sustained recovery from the pandemic, measures must be put into place to better support the work of schools and to increase the capacity of other services to meet the needs of children and families.

“The new Education Recovery Commissioner will need to recognise the extreme pressures on staff in schools and that approaches to education recovery based on trying to squeeze more out of an education system that continues to deal with unprecedented and exceptional challenges would be certain to founder.”