“The Tories have no interest in helping children catch up” - Kate Green responds to reports that the Government’s catch-up ‘tsar’ will not be replaced

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, responding to reports that the Government’s catch-up ‘tsar’, Sir Kevan Collins, will not be replaced, said:

“This announcement confirms the Tories have no interest in helping children catch up. If the Prime Minister cared about children’s learning and life chances then he would have fired the Education Secretary and implemented Sir Kevan’s catch-up plan.

“Unlike the Tories, Labour’s ambitious Children’s Recovery Plan would help every child bounce back after the pandemic, with small group tutoring, new breakfast and after school clubs, and continuing development for their teachers.

“Boris Johnson must explain why he does not share this ambition for children."

Ends

Notes to editors

• 'Exclusive: No plans to replace catch-up tsar, DfE' - Tes
  
  

• Schools Week have reported on a letter sent by Gavin Williamson to the Education Select Committee, confirming that over 10% of children’s recovery funding comes from existing departmental budgets. - Schools Week
  
  

• Labour’s Children’s Recovery Plan would invest £15 billion in catch-up funding to help every child bounce back from the pandemic.
  
  

• Labour’s plan would deliver:

• Small group tutoring for all who need it

• Breakfast clubs and activities for every child

• Quality mental health support for children in every school

• Continued professional development for teachers to support pupils to catch up on lost learning, and

• Targeted extra investment from early years to further education to support young people who struggled most with learning in lockdown