Government faces demand for £1bn 'catch-up' fund for schoolchildren affected by pandemic

8 December 2020, 00:59 | Updated: 8 December 2020, 01:00

Labour is demanding a £1bn schools funding to help kids catch up with lessons
Labour is demanding a £1bn schools funding to help kids catch up with lessons. Picture: PA Images
Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

The Government must create a £1 billion fund to help pupils in England catch up with lost learning time due to the coronavirus pandemic, Labour has said.

The demand is being made after analysis from the party suggests just one in six - or 17% - of schoolchildren eligible for free school meals will benefit from the Government's current scheme to get them back up to speed.

Shadow schools minister Wes Streeting said ministers need to "get a grip" to ensure no pupil misses out on support after months of school closures.

The plea came as analysis from Labour suggested just one in six (17%) pupils eligible for free school meals - around 250,000 children - will benefit from the Government's scheme to help them catch up on lost learning.

Read more: Second firebreak lockdown in Wales not ruled out amid warnings of Christmas 'catastrophe'

Read more: Nottingham Christmas market closed for rest of the year after social distancing criticism

It also suggests only 55% of spending for the Government's national tutoring programme (NTP) has been allocated this year.

It comes after Boris Johnson announced a £1 billion plan to help students in England make up lost learning time following months of school closures.

In June, the Prime Minister said £350 million would be spent on the NTP over the 2020-21 academic year to help the most disadvantaged pupils between the ages of five and 16.

Missing school is 'worse than getting virus' for children

An additional £650 million will be shared across schools this year to help children from all backgrounds who have lost teaching time.

Labour is calling on the Government to make sure the £350 million for the NTP will not be stretched over two academic years.

The subsidised scheme for schools in England seeking tuition for the children worst affected by months of closures opened last month, with the first wave of 188 academic mentors starting catch-up support.

The Department for Education (DfE) has said it expects to place around 1,000 academic mentors, with the remainder starting in the spring term.

Labour has warned these plans would be too late for many pupils sitting exams in 2021.

Read more: Royals were warned Edinburgh visit could breach cross-border covid travel ban

Mr Streeting said: "It is completely unacceptable that the Government's plans will see the vast majority of pupils in most need of help unable to get additional tuition to make up for the learning they have lost

"The Government is failing to support the children who need it the most, and breaking promises to parents and schools about the funding that will be available.

"Ministers must urgently get a grip, bring this additional funding forward, and ensure that no pupil misses out on the support they need."

The warning comes after DfE figures last week revealed that 17% of pupils were absent from class on November 26 - and up to 798,000 did not attend school for Covid-19-related reasons.

Schoolchildren have missed weeks of school due to Covid-19
Schoolchildren have missed weeks of school due to Covid-19. Picture: PA Images

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: "National tutoring programme tutors are only partially funded by Government, and this year's catch-up premium is allocated on a per-pupil basis.

"This means that catch-up funding will take account of the size of the school, but is unlikely to reflect the scale of the challenges faced. The fear is that schools serving the most deprived communities may well find that the Covid top-up does not stretch very far.

"For tutoring to have a real impact in the schools that would most benefit from it, a sustained commitment from Government would be needed with increased investment far beyond this year."

Read more: Man faces £10,000 fine over Nottingham house party 'with 150 guests'

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "The maths isn't difficult to work out. Schools are being hammered financially by the pandemic and the Government isn't giving them anywhere near enough support."

A DfE spokeswoman said: "Our £1 billion Covid catch-up package is helping tackle the impact of lost teaching time as a result of the pandemic, including a £650 million catch-up premium for this academic year to help schools support all pupils and a £350 million national tutoring programme for disadvantaged students.

"Extending the national tutoring programme to run for two years will allow more tutoring to be rolled out across the country and be more beneficial to the children and young people who need the most support to catch up."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Germany's government on the brink of collapse after sacking of key minister

Germany's government on the brink of collapse after sacking of key minister

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, during the B-Girls Round Robin breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris,Credit: Australian Associated Press/Alamy Live News

Raygun quits competitive breakdancing after 'kangaroo' dance mocked at Paris Olympics

Keir Starmer has offered his 'hearty congratulations' to Donald Trump - but is facing pressure to apologise over past comments made by David Lammy

Starmer offers 'hearty congratulations' to Trump, but faces pressure over Lammy's past criticisms of president

Kamala Harris has conceded defeat to Donald Trump

'I concede the election but not the fight': Harris urges supporters not to despair despite defeat to Trump

Donald Trump speaks at his election night watch party, Wednesday

What does Trump's victory mean for war in the Middle East and in Ukraine?

Amy Dowden and former dance partner JB Gill

Amy Dowden gives health update after announcing she is dropping out of Strictly in 'heartbreaking' statement

Mpox only spreads between people who are in close proximity to each other.

Another case of new more infectious mpox strain detected in UK, bringing total to four

Kamala Harris spoke with Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory

Kamala Harris calls Trump to concede defeat and urges him to govern for all Americans as president

Exclusive
FILE - Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, right, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shake hands during their meeting at Trump Tower, on Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Trump 'is serious about ending Ukraine war', says former national security adviser as he blames Biden for the conflict

Suzy Lamplugh disappeared in 1986, with John Cannan the prime suspect

Prime suspect in disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh dies in prison 40 years after estate agent went missing

Queen Camilla will return to her royal duties next week.

Palace gives update on Camilla's return to work after Queen falls ill

Catherine Warrilow spoke out over her issue with Ryanair

Shock as Ryanair force passenger to pay over £100 for carry-on case - even though it fit in the checker

File photo of migrants being rescued in the Channel

Over 50 migrants rescued in English Channel, as 'several bodies' also pulled from the sea

JK Rowling funds a women-only rape crisis centre in Edinburgh

£70,000 payout for woman at centre of rape centre's 'trans heresy hunt'

Ukraine says forces clashed with North Korean troops for first time

Ukraine says forces clashed with North Korean troops for first time