Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take with the new Education Recovery Commissioner to tackle non-academic factors to support children’s attainment.

The Government is committed to helping children and young people make up for lost teaching time as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In June 2020, the Department announced an initial package of support worth £1 billion, including £650 million to support schools to make up for lost teaching time and £350 million for the National Tutoring Programme. In January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, committed to work with parents, teachers and pupils to develop a long term plan to help pupils make up for lost teaching time over the course of this Parliament, alongside a commitment to fund more in tutoring, support to schools and summer activities.

Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed to advise on this broader plan. As outlined in the terms of reference, this will be informed by evidence so that schools can more effectively target resources and support at pupils and areas in greatest need. Academic and non-academic factors in supporting attainment will form a part of this work.

The terms of reference for the Education Recovery Commissioner is published here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/960070/Terms_of_reference.pdf#:~:text=Education%20Recovery%20Commissioner%3A%20role%20specification%20and%20terms%20of,approach%20for%20education%20recovery%2C%20with%20a%20particular%20focus.