Commenting on the ‘simplification’ of
tutoring funding for 2022/23, confirmed by the Department for
Education today, Dr
Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education
Union,
said:
"It is positive news that this funding
for recovery will go direct to schools, rather than through a
convoluted route with a commercial partner. It's a relief that
the feedback from schools has been heeded. The funding will have
more impact if schools can assess how best to use it, whether for
small groups, 1-2-1 support or as part of wellbeing
programmes.
"This admission from government needs
to mark a new approach, where the Department for Education
listens more closely to leaders and teachers rather than
attempting to run schools from the centre without any regard for
input from the profession. School and college leaders know their
students and their school community best and know what
constraints they have to juggle on staffing, so of course
they must be able to deploy the recovery
funding.
"As this week's EPI report shows, the
poorest pupils have fallen further behind their wealthier peers
during the pandemic. They've also experienced worse mental health
and are facing rising poverty. The government's White Paper for
schools, published on Monday, does too little to acknowledge this
and gives not nearly enough help to schools and communities on
the frontline.
"All along the NEU has argued that
leaders should be given their head and the direct funding to get
on with the job of providing education recovery. We will continue
to press government on further measures that can be made to
support young people as we emerge from the
pandemic."
